Michigan basketball gets snubbed with low seed as experts predict early exit in 2025 NCAA Tournament

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – We’re already in the midst of March Madness, as the Michigan Wolverines got hosed by the NCAA selection committee.

The Wolverines were given the No. 5 seed after winning the Big Ten Tournament championship on Sunday (March 16), and pundits feel they’re going home in the round of 68.

Bracketologists had criticized the conference tournament winners, as it seemed that they had penciled the men in maize as the fifth seed in the big dance before the games were played.

For instance, the Wolverines took down the Purdue Boilermakers in blowout fashion on Friday, March 14.

--> Michigan basketball snaps 3-game skid, dominates Purdue to secure Big Ten Tournament semifinal spot

They followed that up by defeating the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, March 15, by the skin of their teeth to advance to the championship game.

--> Tre Donaldson’s game-winning layup sends Michigan basketball to Big Ten Tournament championship

Then, they beat the Wisconsin Badgers in a tough game to capture the tournament title for the first time since winning back-to-back in 2017-2018. They were seeded behind all three teams in the brackets.

--> Late-game heroics lift Michigan basketball to Big Ten Tournament championship over Badgers

There is an understanding as to why Purdue (No. 4 seed), Maryland (No. 4 seed), and Wisconsin (No. 3 seed) as the Wolverines didn’t finish the regular season to one’s liking.

They lost four of their last six games, including a three-game losing streak, but they’re playing their best basketball during money time, and they should be awarded accordingly.

Now they’re headed to Denver, Colorado, to take on No. 12-seeded UC San Diego, riding a 15-game winning streak while heading into the tournament.

They have a record of 30-4 and 18-2 in the Big West standings, with analysts nationwide, including ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas, calling for the Wolverines to fall in the first round.

“I think UC San Diego is a scary game for Michigan because UC San Diego won 15 games in a row. This is their first year of eligibility for the tournament, and they have a guy named Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, who is their best player. Well, maybe Hayden Gray is their best player because he’s their most versatile, but they can really defend. They force a lot of turnovers, and Hayden Gray leads the nation in steals.”

ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas

Hayden Gray scored 22 points while knocking down six of seven three-pointers vs. the UC Irvine Anteaters.

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones dropped 14 points and eight rebounds in the matchup as well.

But Michigan has Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf, formally known as “Area 50-1.”

With Tre Donaldson finding his groove at the right time and L.J. Cason and Will Tschetter playing big as a reserve during the Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines won’t be an easy out.

Tip-off is slated for 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 20. Let the ball get tipped, and may the best team win would be the response that head coach Dusty May might be preaching this week.