Michigan is currently on track to make the NCAA Tournament in Dusty May’s first year as head coach, but how does this year’s version of the Wolverines compare with recent teams that have made the big dance?
It’s been quite the turnaround for Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball in Year 1 under head coach Dusty May. After winning just eight games a year ago, the Wolverines are set to fly past that mark, already standing at 13-3. Michigan looks like one of the best squads in the Big Ten, and barring a disaster down the stretch, appears to be a lock to go back to the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, Michigan has been no stranger to the big dance since John Beilein took over in 2007. Even more impressive, the Wolverines have been successful in their tournament appearances despite not being considered one of basketball’s traditional “blue bloods.”
Today, we’ll take a look back in the archives to see how some of Michigan’s most recent tournament teams compare to this year’s squad.
2016-17: Record – 26-12; No. 7 seed
If you recall, this is the team that failed to make it off the runway on the way to the Big Ten Tournament , but the Wolverines still managed to win the conference title, even playing in practice jerseys in the first game. The team made waves in the NCAA Tournament, upsetting No. 2 Louisville before losing to Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen.
The team was led by guard Derrick Walton, who averaged 15.5 points and five assists per game. Mo Wagner enjoyed a breakout campaign, as did D.J. Wilson. As were most Beilein teams, Michigan was characterized by its stout defense, allowing 66.4 points per game.
2017-18: Record – 33-8; No. 3 seed
If you’re like me, you’d prefer to ignore the National Championship this season, so we’ll skip it for now. Otherwise, this was one of Beilein’s best teams, and it was characterized by its strong play down the stretch. They rattled off 14 straight wins prior to the National Championship, the result of which we will once again ignore.
Wagner was the MVP of this year’s team, but Charles Matthews and Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman were also big contributors. The Wolverines had one of the nation’s best defenses, coming in at No. 8 in points allowed per game (63.3), but were in the middle of the pack offensively.
Michigan’s tournament run was characterized by a Jordan Poole buzzer-beater against Houston in the Round of 32, followed by big wins over Texas A&M and Florida State . The Wolverines defeated Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago in the Final Four, setting up a matchup with Villanova in the title game. Instead of discussing the title game, watch this instead:
“AND IT GOES FOR THE WIN!”
On this day in 2018, Jordan Poole hit an iconic buzzer-beater for @umichbball #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eMdNJpFaxE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
2018-19: Record – 30-7; No. 2 seed
Michigan followed that up with another dominant regular season. The Wolverines featured one of the better scoring duos in recent memory, as Iggy Brazdeikis and Poole both had breakout campaigns. Matthews and Jon Teske were also solid contributors. The defense was positively smothering, allowing just 58.3 points per game, good for No. 2 nationally, but the offense lagged only managed 69.6 points per game.
The early part of the season was incredible, as Michigan started off 17-0 with ranked wins over Villanova, North Carolina, Purdue and Indiana. However, the Wolverines went just 13-7 thereafter and bowed out in the Sweet Sixteen in an ugly loss to Texas Tech. That was the last game of Beilein’s tenure as head coach, as he departed that offseason to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers .
2020-21: Record – 23-5; No. 1 seed
The 2020 COVID Wolverines were one of the more exciting Michigan teams to watch in recent memory. After a 19-12 debut season from Juwan Howard, the Wolverines stormed through the Big Ten, winning the regular season conference crown thanks to big performances from Hunter Dickinson, Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers, Eli Brooks, and transfers Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown.
Michigan was once again excellent defensively, allowing just 65.1 points per game. The regular season featured an 18-1 start and six wins over ranked conference foes. The Wolverines stumbled into the dance, though, losing three of their final six games. The magic would end for Michigan in the Elite Eight against UCLA in a nail-biter, but it was a memorable season with plenty of success nonetheless.
2021-22: Record – 19-15; No. 11 seed
Michigan wasn’t really able to build on its stellar campaign from the year prior, barely making the NCAA Tournament after losing in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines were inconsistent and went just 2-6 against ranked opponents, but its best win was an upset over No. 3 Purdue.
For as lackluster as the team was, Dickinson took his game to another level, averaging 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors. Brooks also took a step forward, but Michigan didn’t get as much out of five-star “one-and-dones” Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate. A late-season five-game suspension for Howard didn’t help matters either.
Michigan found its stride in the NCAA Tournament, though, notching upset victories over No. 6 Colorado State and No. 3 Tennessee. The lights went out for the Wolverines in the Sweet Sixteen, with a loss to No. 2 Villanova.
2024-25: Current Record – 13-3
Michigan is well on pace to make the NCAA Tournament with 13 wins, including three over ranked teams. Unlike Michigan’s teams in the Howard and Beilein eras, this group is characterized by its offense, which is currently averaging 85.1 points per game and has surpassed 80 points in eight straight games.
The Wolverines are shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range, which is a recipe for success in March. Size is another key ingredient which could fuel a run, and the Wolverines boast two of the best big men in the Big Ten with Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin.
Time will tell if this squad can make a run in March, but there are plenty of big games down the stretch, including two games each against Purdue and Michigan State which can help build some major momentum entering March. There’s little doubt this team will be in the dance, as it compares favorably to Michigan’s other teams in recent years.