Michigan to Play Tennessee

After an improbably surprising 20 win season, the Michigan basketball team will play Tennessee. They received an 8 seed, which, wow. Wow. If they win, they will play the winner of Duke/Hampton. Or Duke.

I didn't see an NCAA Tournament bid this season. I would have been encouraged by an NIT bid, to be perfectly honest. This has been one of the most entertaining seasons in quite some time for Michigan fans. They last made the tournament in 2009 when they beat Clemson before getting "Griffinized". Yeah, it was bad.



This year Novak and Douglass will have a chance to advance farther in their junior seasons. A full, informative  preview will be coming at MSG. A snarky, mildly inappropriate preview will be coming right here. I will not criticize the seeding because, well, I am just happy they're in. I would have guessed a 10 or 11. The end of season run must have been more impressive than I thought. They were pretty safe going into the Big Ten Tournament, and secured it by beating Illinois.

No matter what happens, the future is bright. There are no seniors on the roster, and will be adding two high caliber guards for next year in former Jared Sullinger teammate PG Trey Burke, and Southfield's Carlton Brundidge. While not adding much size, both can score (especially Brundidge) and should be able to contribute as freshmen. They are also still in the mix for undersized PF Max Bielfeldt and SF/PF Larry Nance Jr., who would team with Tim Hardaway Jr, Jordan Dumars,Jon Horford, and 2012 commit Glenn Robinson III, to make up a killer father/son team.

This is a rivalry that goes back at least to 1997, when Charles Woodson beat Peyton Manning for the Heisman. They also cheat, which is nice.

Go Blue!