NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Michigan Likely Out Without Big Ten Tournament Run

The University of Michigan was ranked 22nd in the preseason Top 25 but could miss the NCAA Tournament entirely despite having one of college basketball’s top players in center Hunter Dickinson unless the Wolverines perhaps win a few games in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. ESPN bracketology currently has Michigan among its “Next Four Out” along with North Carolina, Vanderbilt and Oregon.

Here is the Big Ten Tournament rundown, it gives an idea of your next college basketball bets for the next games.

NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Michigan Likely Out Without Big Ten Tournament Run

Michigan Wolverines fell to 17-14 overall and 11-9 in the Big Ten with its second straight loss Sunday, 75-73 in overtime at Indiana – the Wolverines’ third straight OT game for the first time since the 1979-80 season. Indiana went on a 6-0 run to start overtime, which was enough to seal the win after Michigan shot just 1-for-6 from the field in the extra period.

Dickinson completed his fourth-straight double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds while also tying his career-high with five blocks in the loss. Dickinson became the ninth Wolverine ever to surpass the 750-rebound mark. He is the sixth Wolverine to amass 1,500 points and 750 rebounds.

Kobe Bufkin logged his 10th straight game in double figures with 19 points, and Jett Howard added 16 points behind four three-pointers. With 76 three-pointers on the season, Howard tied Trey Burke (2012-13) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-11) for 11th-most in a single season among Wolverines. Howard reached the mark in just 28 games, compared to Burke’s 39 and Hardaway Jr.’s 35.

For the third-straight season Dickinson leads U-M in scoring (18.2 points per game) and rebounding (9.0 rebounds per game), while adding a team-best 13 double-doubles and a team-best 54 blocks — his first career 50-plus block season. Howard is averaging 14.4 points per game, while Bufkin has had a breakout season, averaging 13.9 points per game while leading U-M with 40 steals. With 11 conference wins, the Wolverines extended their streak of 10-plus wins to eight straight seasons — and 11 over the last 12.

Sunday was the 12th time this season Michigan lost by fewer than six points in regulation or in overtime.

“It’s why we do all that extra conditioning in the summer and the fall,” Dickinson said. “You feel like you work for these moments. But no excuses, now we’re onto the Big Ten tournament where we’ll probably have to win a couple games in a row here and try to shock the world.”

Michigan has earned a No. 8 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be held at Chicago’s United Center. Following U-M’s 10th straight first round bye, the Wolverines will face No. 9 seed Rutgers in the first game of the Thursday session at noon ET on the Big Ten Network. With a victory, the Maize and Blue would advance to take on No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Purdue on Friday.

Most likely, U-M has to beat Rutgers and Purdue to get in: “Our young men, they’re smart, they’re also extremely aware as far as the goal at hand,” coach Juwan Howard said. “They are reminded all the time.”

Michigan played Rutgers only once (Feb. 23) in the regular season, getting the 58-45 road victory at Jersey Mike’s Arena. UM is 16-1 all-time against the Scarlet Knights, who are 18-13 overall this season with a 10-10 mark in league play. They too are fighting for an NCAA Tournament invitation. The Wolverines have a 9-9 in Big Ten Tournament games hosted in Chicago.

Michigan was the 8 seed in last year’s Big Ten Tournament as well and lost its opening-round game to Indiana. The last time the Wolverines played at the United Center was in 2019. U-M reached its third-straight championship game that year, but fell to No. 1 seed Michigan State, 65-55, in the title game.

Purdue is the +140 tournament favorite with Michigan at +2500. Minnesota is the +100000 long shot.

Bet Michigan Wolverines to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

2023 Big Ten Tournament (all times Chicago local; BTN – Big Ten Network)

Wednesday (First Round)

Game 1 (#12 Wisconsin vs. #13 Ohio State) – 5:30 p.m. CT (BTN)

Game 2 (#11 Nebraska vs. #14 Minnesota) – 25 minutes following Game 1 (BTN)

Thursday (Second Round)

Game 3 (#8 Michigan vs. #9 Rutgers) – 11 a.m. CT (BTN)

Game 4 (#5 Iowa vs. Game 1 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 3 (BTN)

Game 5 (#7 Illinois vs. #10 Penn State) – 5:30 p.m. CT (BTN)

Game 6 (#6 Maryland vs. Game 2 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 5 (BTN)

Friday

Game 7 (#1 Purdue vs. Game 3 winner) – 11 a.m. CT (BTN)

Game 8 (#4 Michigan State vs. Game 4 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 7 (BTN)

Game 9 (#2 Northwestern vs. Game 5 winner) – 5:30 p.m. CT (BTN)

Game 10 (#3 Indiana vs. Game 6 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 9 (BTN)

Saturday

Game 11 (Game 7 vs. Game 8 winner) – 12 p.m. CT (CBS)

Game 12 (Game 9 vs. Game 10 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 11 (CBS)

Sunday

Game 13 (Game 11 vs. Game 12 winner) – 2:30 p.m. CT (CBS)

Bet Big Ten Tournament to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

College Basketball Betting Center

---

College Basketball Odds | Online Bookies with Vegas Odds

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later