Michigan basketball down to one path to NCAA tournament berth

After yet another heart-breaking Big Ten loss on Tuesday night, the Michigan basketball team (14-12, 8-7 Big Ten) has one final path to the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines have seen their ups and downs so far throughout the 2022-23 season, though it will come down to one final stretch.

The regular season doesn’t matter anymore

Essentially no amount of wins in the regular season will get the Michigan Wolverines into the NCAA tournament. Michigan basketball has five games remaining — three Q1 games, one Q2, and one Q3 matchup. Even if Michigan wins out, I doubt it will be enough to get the Wolverines into the big dance next month, Michigan’s record would still be a disappointing 17-12 heading into the tournament.

Michigan basketball must win the Big Ten tournament

There is one saving grace for the Michigan Wolverines this season that will afford them one final shot at a tournament berth. Each conference tournament winner gets an automatic bid to the following NCAA tournament, meaning if Michigan basketball manages to run the table in Chicago during the Big Ten tournament in early March, the Wolverines will make it into the main tournament instead of the NIT.

It may not seem likely, but we’ve seen flashes of greatness from this Michigan Wolverines team throughout the season. If Michigan can get hot for a few games on a neutral floor, the Wolverines could very well make a push for the Big Ten title via the conference tournament, and therefore see March Madness once again.

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