Wolverines Report: Getting Inside

Now they can smell it. Three straight Big Ten wins and victories in five of six recent conference outings have the Wolverines on more than a roll -- they can detect the aroma of the NCAA Tournament.

Six straight losses preceded this recent run of success, and no one was foolish enough to even hint at postseason expectations. Michigan had to stave off a total collapse first, and get about the business of salvaging something from the season before anyone could express any talk about being part of the Big Dance.

So the Wolverines restrained themselves, gathered themselves, and figured things out. Their turnaround has been one of the best-kept secrets in a Big Ten conference where Michigan was considered a long-term, back-of-the-pack dweller by most.

Michigan was floundering at 1-6 in the Big Ten about three weeks before this recent run. Six straight losses dropped the Wolverines so far off the NCAA radar that they were not earning even a blip.

But then Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern and most recently Indiana have been victims of the revitalized Wolverines. The only time Michigan got sidetracked in this streak of success was in a hotly-contested 62-53 loss to then-No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus.

The victory over Indiana gave the Wolverines 16 wins, which put this season's total ahead of last year. The much more important benefit of that win and the trend it continued is what it likely does for the courtship efforts with the NCAA selection committee.

"I think what we've done the past couple of weeks has put us back in the discussion," Michigan junior forward Zack Novak said. "We're working hard to build a resume."

Their poor start in conference play quickly removed the Wolverines from any chance of contention for a Big Ten regular season title, but their recent surge has made them a player once again. If Michigan continues trending upward, the Wolverines will be the team nobody wants to face in the Big Ten tournament, and one of the more unexpected entries in the NCAA field.

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