Michigan basketball ended the 2023-24 season not just on a whimper, but with a full-on cry for help, having lost the last eight games of the season and only winning two games (Ohio State and Wisconsin) in the 2024 calendar year.
There’s only once chance for the Wolverines to make the NCAA Tournament, and that would mean winning the entire Big Ten Tournament. That will be beyond an uphill battle considering the maize and blue have the No. 14 seed — dead last in the conference.
The Wolverines will open Big Ten Tournament play at Target Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, taking on 11-seed Penn State 25 minutes after the conclusion of No. 12 Maryland vs. No. 13 Rutgers, which tips off at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Both games will be broadcast on Peacock.
If Michigan loses that game, the season is over. There will be no postseason chance for the Wolverines without winning the Big Ten Tournament. Win that game and Michigan would face No. 6 Indiana on Thursday night. The winner of that game would face No. 3 Nebraska, which Michigan was just blown out by at home on Sunday afternoon.
Nonetheless, the worst season in Michigan basketball history is likely about to come to a quick close within the week.
Full schedule:
Wednesday, March 13 (First Round)
Game 1 (No. 12 Maryland vs. No. 13 Rutgers) – 5:30 p.m. CT (Peacock)
Game 2 (No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 14 Michigan) – 25 minutes following Game 1 (Peacock)
Thursday, March 14 (Second Round)
Game 3 (No. 8 Michigan State vs. #9 Minnesota) – 11 a.m. CT (BTN)
Game 4 (No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Game 1 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 3 (BTN)
Game 5 (No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Ohio State ) – 5:30 p.m. CT (BTN)
Game 6 (No. 6 Indiana vs. Game 2 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 5 (BTN)
Friday, March 15 (Quarterfinals)
Game 7 (No. 1 Purdue vs. Game 3 winner) – 11 a.m. CT (BTN)
Game 8 (No. 4 Northwestern vs. Game 4 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 7 (BTN)
Game 9 (No. 2 Illinois vs. Game 5 winner) – 5:30 p.m. CT (BTN)
Game 10 (No. 3 Nebraska vs. Game 6 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 9 (BTN)
Saturday, March 16 (Semifinals)
Game 11 (Game 7 vs. Game 8 winner) – Noon CT (CBS)
Game 12 (Game 9 vs. Game 10 winner) – 25 minutes following Game 11 (CBS)
Sunday, March 17 (Championship)
Game 13 (Game 11 vs. Game 12 winner) – 2:30 p.m. CT (CBS)