Michigan Get's Big Win - Now the Focus is on the Big 10 Tourney

Michigan swept it's instate rival on Saturday for the first time since 1997.  That is big news for a number of reasons including: the rivalry between the two programs is clearly back, ESPN now has Michigan as an at large team in the NCAA Tournament switching places with MSU who is now on the "last 4 in" list and the Wolverines now have a bye in the Big Ten Tournament as the #4 seed.    

The team that was expected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten is tied for 4th in the final league standings.  That is pretty impressive.

Now to the tough road ahead.  Michigan will play Illinois on Friday at about 2:30 or 3:00 EST.  If they are lucky to win that game, they will most likely face the #1 team in the nation The Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.

Michigan has played both Illinois and Ohio State tough this year but has an 0-3 record against them.  I think Michigan still needs at least 1 win in the Big Ten Tourney to feel comfortable that they are in the Big Dance.  

So is getting the 4th seed a good thing or bad thing?  Keeping the 4th team in the Big Ten out of the tournament might be difficult but what if they have a 9-10 overall B10 record?   Playing on Thursday of the Big Ten tournament might have given Michigan a favorable match up against an inferior team.

So playing well is a blessing and a curse.  Let's hope the Wolverines don't pick their heads up and start looking around, let's hope they keep playing hard and can get a victory over Illinois on Friday.  If they do that they then can look to get revenge on the long 3 pointer from Justin Evan Turner that ended the Wolverines season in 2010.

Well done Mr. Beilein, this might be the best coaching job you have done in a long time!