Michigan is one of only 11 undefeated teams left in college basketball, and there’s a great chance it will stay that way through the rest of the nonconference schedule.
The Wolverines have won each of their first nine games, seven of which came in nonconference play. Last week, Michigan took care of then-No. 19 Purdue at home and won by two points at Northwestern.
John Beilein’s Michigan teams haven’t typically been known for fast starts. Last season, the Wolverines lost to LSU, North Carolina and Ohio State while beating up on cupcakes in the first 10 games.
In 2016-17, Michigan started 14-9 before ripping off 10 wins in 12 games to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth. The year before that, Michigan lost to Xavier, Connecticut and SMU by a combined 54 points.
Even the 2013-14 team, which ultimately came one play away from the Final Four, lost to Iowa State, Charlotte, Duke and Arizona in the first 10 games.
The 2012-13 team was the most recent to go undefeated in nonconference play, winning 13 games to start the season. That streak included two wins against a team ranked in the final AP Poll: No. 11 Kansas State and No. 17 Pittsburgh.
This season’s nonconference resume will likely end up being even more impressive than in 2012-13 because of the strength of Michigan’s schedule and the margin of victory.
Michigan went to then-No.
