- Despite winning the Big Ten tournament, Michigan basketball received a 5-seed, roughly the same seed projected before the tournament.
- The Wolverines will face UC San Diego in Denver, a challenging location due to altitude and a late tip-off time.
INDIANAPOLIS — The good news is Michigan basketball will raise a banner into the rafters at Crisler Center.
It earned that right over the weekend, winning three games against NCAA Tournament teams in less than 48 hours, on its way to winning the Big Ten tournament title for the first time since going back to back in 2017 and 2018.
Its reward? Not much. In fact, other than the bragging rights and good feels, it seemed to not matter in the slightest for postseason seeding.
The Wolverines knocked off Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin in succession — and finished tied or ahead of them in the regular season standings — yet all three of those squads were seeded higher than Dusty May’s team.
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Wisconsin is a 3, while Maryland and Purdue are both 4s.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines (25-9, 14-6 Big Ten), who were in first in the Big Ten much of the way, were given a 5-seed by the selection committee, which is the line most felt they were on at the end of the regular season.
To make matters tougher, even though they are in the South region, they’ve been sent west in the opening rounds where they will have to deal with altitude in Denver. There, they will play at 10 p.m. EST vs. a team only 11 spots beneath it in the KenPom game rankings.
“I think we will go out there with a little extra edge,” May said in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse corridors just outside its locker room once he learned the draw. “But this team is motivated intrinsically by the right things.
“Like I said, we control what we can control, we’re grateful to be a part of it — and matchups and those things are much more important than what number is next to your name.”
Here’s the unfortunate reality that many U-M supporters are now learning the hard way: the Big Ten tournament only matters for momentum and reunions down the line — it simply does not impact the Big Dance, except for those teams that are on the bubble (like Indiana and Ohio State) and needed just one more win to likely secure a bid.
Michigan was cutting down the nets, literally, five minutes before it went back to its locker room and learned of its fate. While the committee has indicated they do build in contingency plans, the results often speak for themselves. It’s the worst-kept secret in college basketball.
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“Michigan should be a 4-seed with a win today, but has likely already been slotted as a 5-seed,” ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi said before the Big Ten tournament championship game even tipped off.
In some ways, it feels like playing the whole weekend may have hindered their chances by not getting a better seed and having less time to rest.
But frankly, it is what it is. Every team wants to win every game and Michigan will forever be the 2025 Big Ten tournament champions.
But it’s hard to deny other than the vibes, Michigan didn’t get to benefit from this weekend at all. Instead, it got less prep time and possibly the same draw it would’ve got if it had bowed out on Saturday.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but U-M has been handed adverse conditions already this year and come out on top. So, really, what’s one more?
