Michigan basketball gets NCAA Tournament bid; set to play Colorado State

Michigan basketball has joined March Madness as a no. 11 seed and will face Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Michigan Wolverines have now made the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive time.

Michigan basketball ended up in the South Region on the bracket and will play in Indianapolis, Indiana, the first weekend. The winner of this game will take on the winner of third-seeded Tennesee and 14th seeded Longwood.

The Rams, who are 25-5, play out of the Mountain West Conference. They came in second place in the regular season and lost in the conference tournament’s semifinals. Colorado State is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013.

Last season, the Wolverines were a one seed and made it to the Elite Eight before falling to UCLA. This is head coach Juwan Howard’s second time taking the maize and blue to the NCAA Tournament (his first season, there was no tournament – COVID).

Michigan basketball earns #11-seed in NCAA Tournament.

Michigan had a disappointing season after high expectations. The Wolverines finished eighth in the Big Ten after the regular season and got bounced by Indiana in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament by blowing a 17-point lead.

The Wolverines are led by Hunter Dickinson, who is averaging over 32 minutes a game with over 18 points per game. Dickinson is the “it” factor for Michigan. If he is having a good game, which usually means he can establish himself in the paint, Michigan is very competitive. However, if Dickinson is not having a very good game, the Wolverines’ offense becomes putrid and causes the team to struggle.

Juwan Howard has to make sure Dickinson is ready to go on Thursday for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, or the already disappointing season will become more disappointing. Howard is also looking to prove himself in the NCAA Tournament in his first season, where he is able to partake in it as a coach.

It’s been quite the year for Howard, especially as of late, when he was suspended for his actions in the postgame handshake line against the University of Wisconsin. The Wolverines coach has since returned after lighting up the sports world with the video that came out last month.

That being said, back on the bench and looking to make a run with his guys, Howard and the Wolverines will take on the Colorado State Rams this Thursday to open their 2022 NCAA Tournament.