Michigan Men's Basketball Embattled as NCAA March Madness Challenges Big Ten Edge
Michigan is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan men's basketball always was locked into a 1 seed. But its position in the NCAA Tournament bracket did change slightly Sunday, following its 80-72 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten championship game in Chicago. The loss dropped Michigan to the third overall No.
1 seed, and the Wolverines (31-3) will open Thursday in Buffalo against either UMBC or Howard , who play in a First Four game Tuesday. "We had Michigan on the 2 line, and then when we scrubbed it when the Big Ten Tournament results came out," Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference and chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, said on CBS on Sunday night. "Arizona went to the 2 overall and Michigan the 3 overall.
" Duke was the top overall 1 seed, and Florida was the final overall 1 seed. This is the fourth time Michigan has earned a No. 1 seed.
Purdue also got a boost by its win over Michigan, moving off the 3 line and to a No. 2 seed. tpaul@detroitnews.