For those who think Michigan playing Ohio in the second round of the NCAA tournament is pure coincidence, well you just don't know how the selection committee operates.

For as long as I have been watching the Big Dance, I have been aware of the committee's challenge of not only making things as fair as possible but as intriguing as well. Whether it is a Tom Izzo vs. Tom Crean matchup or a MSU-Eastern Michigan game, the NCAA tournament selectors are all about making things as interesting as possible. And, I wouldn't want it any other way.

So when I saw that Michigan was playing Ohio, not Ohio State or anybody else for that matter, I knew it was done on purpose and could be very embarrassing.

Right now the matchup is all fun and games as people act confused as to who the Wolverines opponent really will be on Friday. Of course Michigan football head coach Brady Hoke has called the Buckeyes "Ohio" since he has come to Ann Arbor, and hoops head man John Beilein has followed suit. Something that could have been a real bad idea!

I understand that Hoke has to be different in how he approaches the Ohio State game and calling them "Ohio" has worked so far. Even if Hoke really can't explain why he does it, it doesn't matter, fans eat it up. I remember being at Brady's pre Buckeye press conference where he was asked what he called Ohio when he was coaching in the MAC? Hoke replied "Bobcats."

Of course Hoke will NEVER have to play the Bobcats as long as he is the coach at Michigan. With the exception of a rare bowl matchup, the head coach will never put Ohio (talking about the real Ohio) on the schedule. The hoops team however, is not so lucky.

Playing in the NCAA tournament is incentive and motivation enough. But, then add some bulletin board material to the underdog and things can become real dicey, real quick. I have no idea how Ohio has reacted to Michigan calling Ohio State, them? If I were to guess, I would say they probably don't like it a whole lot. Can you blame them? They must be thinking, if Ohio State is Ohio then who are they? Hell, they might have been wondering if they actually beat Michigan by 20 plus on Saturday, considering people in Ann Arbor refer to the team that actual won by their name. Make sense? Yeah, I don't think so either. I'm confused just typing. There was no reason for Beilein to continue the Hoke "Ohio" slight. Sure, it might have been funny when they were playing the Buckeyes at the time and maybe even the coach was trying to add some fire to a rivalry, but, now I assume Beilein could be second guessing himself.

Above I claimed not to know how Bobcat people feel about the Michigan "Ohio" thing? So I did some research. The following is a quote I found from a February 10th, 2012 Free Press article about Beilein and Athletic Director David Brandon calling the Buckeyes "Ohio"...

"It is kind of disrespectful, but it is what it is," said Ohio basketball coach John Groce, who was an assistant at OSU. "You can't control what other people say. You can only control what you're doing on a daily basis. That's how we operate here, and I can assure you that's how coach (Thad) Matta operates in Columbus.

"For me, it's almost comical."

So now we know! I'm not saying that Ohio will beat Michigan on Friday, but Wolverine fans can't feel good about giving the Bobcats extra incentive, especially when they probably had no idea they were doing it or would end up meeting them in the biggest game of the season.

Seems like every tournament at least one 13 seed advances to the second round. That alone, Michigan should be fearful of. Add that to the fact that the tournament isn't what it used to be. Back in the day, upsets of this magnitude happened less frequently considering the talent separation of the teams. Now it seems like the "mid major" programs have become just as dangerous as the power conferences. Being a four seed and having to take on a 13 is no gimmie anymore. In the history of the "Big Dance" the 4 seed has beat a 13 seed almost 79 percent of the time. However in the last 3 of 4 tournaments at least one 13 seed has advanced past the first or second round, depending on if there was a play in game that particular year. In 2008, two 13 seeds advanced past the first round. So it happens a lot.

For a second let's forget about the "Ohio" confusion! It needs to also be said that the Bobcats are one of the best teams in the NCAA at defending the 3 pointer. Now if you watch Michigan much, you know that a lot of what the Wolverines do depends on the 3 ball and when it's not falling, the "Maize and Blue" are in for a long day on the court. The Wolverines are not bigger than most teams, meaning they don't hit the boards particularly well, nor do they get physical in the paint. I know Beilein will break down tape on Ohio and find ways to exploit the Bobcats. But so far, I think I might be giving the edge to the underdog in this one!

To be fair however, I do consider Beilein one of the better tournament coaches employed today. He has made an Elite 8 with West Virginia and has won two second round games in his time at Michigan in two appearances. Also we cannot forget the fact that the Wolverines were blown out their last game, something that has to act as a motivating factor of their own. Michigan has not suffered more than one loss in a row this season, something that obviously is a product of a senior led team that has the ability to bounce back. No matter how much I rip them for calling OSU, "Ohio" they still have had a great season. A basketball resume being truly proud of.

So what do you think? How are you feeling about this game come Friday?

If Michigan wins, then the world is right and they will have a legit chance to get out of the first weekend, something the Wolverines have not done since 1994. However, if the "Maize and Blue" lose to Ohio, then the way business is done in Ann Arbor will have to change. I would think that the cute "Ohio" term would have to stop referring to Ohio State for both the football and basketball programs. Michigan would have lost to the real Ohio, a team nobody has given any credit to for being any good or even existing for that matter. I remember what it felt like when Michigan lost to Appalachian State in football, a loss to Ohio on Friday I believe would be just as embarrassing for the school, considering the Wolverines did it to themselves. I always have thought the "Ohio" name calling was silly, but now it seems flat out DUMB too.

"Beat Ohio!" The Bobcats that is! I'm still so confused.