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Michigan basketball makes NCAA Tourney, will face Colorado St. in Indy

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•03/13/22•

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Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard
Michigan Wolverines head basketball coach Juwan Howard led U-M to the NCAA Tournament for the second time. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Juwan Howard said after a Michigan loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament Friday he’d be praying his Wolverines got a bid. His prayers were answered Sunday when the field was released with U-M on the 11 seed line.

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Michigan will face Colorado State in Indianapolis Thursday. Howard and his team will take it based on his comments after the loss to Indiana.

“I’m not in charge of the selection committee, but I would say this — our guys put themselves in the position to have an opportunity,” Howard said. “And I’m going to pray. Prayer wards are going to be open. I’m going to wait on Sunday with my players and see where the chips fall at the end. 

“But at the end of the day, whatever is decided, I’m still proud of how this team, coaches … the Michigan family has been together. And we talk about family, we don’t use that word loosely. But our family was challenged throughout the year. And I love how we have been able to stay connected through those times.”

But they’ll have to play much better than they did in the last 12 minutes in Indianapolis to have a shot. Michigan blew a 17-point lead in a span of 5:30 in a 74-69 loss to the Hoosiers. They went without a field goal for over 10 minutes in the second half. They also went 0-for-13 from the field as part of a 28-4 run that led to their first, first-game loss in the Big Ten Tournament since 2006.

This year’s team hasn’t strung two consecutive wins together since Feb. 8 and Feb. 10. They won at Penn State and blew out Purdue at home. And they only won three straight once, beating Maryland, winning at Indiana and beating Northwestern at home in late January.

Odds are against them making a run, but at least they’ll get their chance, starting Thursday.

The Wolverines made it to the Elite Eight under Howard last year before falling to UCLA.

Michigan would likely play No. 3 seed Tennessee in the second game should the Wolverines win. Villanova is the No. 2 seed in the bracket, with Arizona No. 1. The Wildcats thrashed U-M in Las Vegas early in the season.

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