Bubble Watch: Should The Michigan Wolverines Be In the Field of 65?

Many college basketball fans didn't expect much out of the Michigan Wolverines this season.

They were not involved in any of the ESPN discussions about surprising teams this season. The Wolverines weren't even mentioned as a team that could make the NCAA tournament.

It's hard to blame anyone for not talking about them, because Michigan was coming off a school record of 22 losses in John Beilein's first year as head coach.

But, Beilein's second year has been much more successful. The Wolverines have an overall record of 18-12 and boast many quality victories that have put them on the fringe of the NCAA tournament. If the Michigan makes the field of 65, it will be the first time since 1998 that they would be making an appearance.

The Wolverines have a strong case to make the tournament. They boast victories over two top-five teams, Duke and UCLA, and also knocked off two more top 25 teams, Purdue and Illinois.

Michigan has also faced many of best teams in the nation this season. As of Monday the Wolverines have the 10th toughest schedule in the country.

The Wolverines did go through a period where they lost seven of nine games to drop their overall record to 15-10. However, Michigan has picked up the pieces and has won three of their last five games, including victories over No. 16 Purdue and fellow bubble team Minnesota.

Michigan closes out their regular at Minnesota this Saturday. They will then prepare to try and make a run in the Big Ten Tournament.

The bottom line is that if Michigan can get to the 20-win mark they should make the NCAA tournament this season.

On a different note, all of the Big Ten bubble teams should be rooting on the Creighton Blue Jays in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament next week as well.

The Blue Jays occupy one of the valuable at-large bids because they are in second place going into their conference tournament.

However, if the Blue Jays were to win their conference they would more then likely bounce Northern Iowa, the current MVC leader, from the NCAA tournament and open up another at-large spot.