Both the University of Michigan and Michigan State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have had high-achieving seasons.
Michigan’s men’s basketball team, led by head coach Dusty May, has been one of the best college basketball teams in the country. Currently, the Wolverines are 17-1 and have shown they can play at a high level. The best win the team has had this season so far was on Nov. 26 against Gonzaga, where they won by forty points and scored over 100 points in the game. Gonzaga is currently ranked number eight. Other than that, Michigan has not played any other currently-ranked teams this season. But their wins have still been dominant, especially thanks to an amazing offense that includes Morez Johnson Jr., a sophomore forward who transferred from Illinois and has put up a field goal percentage of 68.9% this year, currently fourth in the country. Pair Johnson with other notable players such as forward Yaxel Lendeborg and guards Nimari Burnett and Elliot Cadeau, and it gives Michigan one of the best offenses in the game, with the team averaging 94.6 points per game (second in the country) and a field goal percentage of 52.3% (fourth in the country). The defense can struggle at times, but has been generally good rebounding-wise, with Michigan averaging 32.2 defensive rebounds per game, which is good for first in the country. Michigan also averages 6.2 blocks per game (fifth in the country) and holds opponents to only a 35.5% field goal percentage (first in the country). Most people agree Michigan will be a tough out in March Madness, thanks to the depth of their roster and an experienced head coach.
Michigan State’s men’s basketball team has also had tremendous success this season. Tom Izzo, who started coaching Michigan State in 1995, has led the team to eight Final Fours, 11 Big Ten regular-season titles, six Big Ten tournament championships, and a national championship. His 59-26 March Madness record is one of the most respected in the game, and Michigan State hasn’t missed the tournament since the 1996-97 season.
This year is not very different; Michigan State is currently ranked number ten in the country, and they have depth all around their roster. Jeremy Fears averages 13.2 points per game and 8.4 assists per game, which ranks second in the country. Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper are both scary threats. Kohler is currently averaging 9.6 rebounds per game, which is 24th in the country and second in the Big Ten. Michigan State isn’t a lights-out shooting team, but they do the other things that help them win games. As a team, MSU averages 41.6 rebounds per game, 18.6 assists per game, and holds its opponents to 63.5 points per game on defense, all top twenty-five stats in the country.
Both Michigan and Michigan State’s women’s teams are succeeding as well. Michigan’s women’s basketball team is currently ranked seventh in the country and has an overall record of 15-3, but its three losses are all against ranked teams. Meanwhile, Michigan State has improved tremendously under Robyn Fralick, who currently has a 44-19 record with the Spartans and has already gotten them to a 17-2 record, placing them thirteenth in the country this year.
Both Michigan and Michigan State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have been performing well this season, with all four teams being ranked in the top 15 in the country. There is no doubt that any of these teams has a chance to win it all this year, with the right moments and matchups that could happen later this year. Fans of both teams should be excited for what’s to come later in the season.
