Michigan basketball team gets a No. 4 seed, plays No. 13 Ohio on Friday
Ohio fans cheer on their team at the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland this weekend. Next, they'll root for the Bobcats against Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.
AP Photo
This story was updated at 7:55 p.m.
The Michigan basketball team is headed to Nashville, Tenn.
And it'll be playing Ohio.
No, not that Ohio. The Ohio Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference.
"We're playing Ohio University now," said coach John Beilein, who has joined Michigan football coach Brady Hoke in referring to Ohio State as 'Ohio.'
"It's a great university down in Athens, Ohio."
The Wolverines were given a No. 4 seed Sunday in the 2012 NCAA Tournament and will face the No. 13 Bobcats on Friday in Nashville during a second-round matchup in the Midwest Regional.
The game is scheduled to tip at 7:20 p.m. and will air on TNT.
The No. 4 seed is the highest the Michigan program has received since the Wolverines were a No. 3 in 1998. The Wolverines have now advanced to three NCAA Tournaments in four seasons.
Michigan is 3-0 all-time vs. Ohio.
Related content: Get to know Ohio U. | Tournament bracket
Michigan has never been a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Beilein, the No. 4 slot is the highest he's ever had. This will be Beilein's seventh tournament as a head coach.
After advancing to the round of 32 a year ago, Michigan will make its first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995-96.
"We haven't been to back-to-back tournaments in a long time, and it's great for the program," Michigan senior co-captain Zack Novak said. "The No. 4 seed, that's huge. We're one of the top 16 seeds in the country, and I think that speaks to the type of season we had.
"I like the position we're in."
After losing to Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday in Indianapolis, known "bracketologists" Jerry Palm, of CollegeRPI.com, and Joe Lunardi, of ESPN.com, both projected Michigan as a No. 3 seed.
That wasn't the case in the end, though, as the selection committee offered No. 3 seeds to Baylor, Florida State, Georgetown and Marquette. Michigan joined Indiana, Wisconsin and Louisville as No. 4 seeds.
The NCAA Tournament selection committee, for the first time ever, released how it rated the field of 68. Michigan finished at No. 13, the top No. 4 seed.
The Wolverines didn't care where they ended up, though, they're just glad to be back.
"When you're going through it as a player, having gone through it in a time when you don't see your name up there, you don't care where you're at," Novak said. "You just want to see Michigan flash up on the board."
Should Michigan (24-9) advance beyond Ohio, the Wolverines would play either No. 5 Temple or the No. 12 seed play-in winner, either California or South Florida.
The four top seeds in the Midwest bracket are No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Kansas, Georgetown and Michigan. Should the Wolverines advance to the second weekend of the tournament, they'd be sent to regional semifinal play in St. Louis.
The four No. 1 seeds in this year's tournament were Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina and Michigan State.
As for the Bobcats, the Wolverines say they know very little about their tournament opponent, but plan to figure out more soon.
The Bobcats finished 27-7 on the season and beat Akron, 64-63, on Saturday to claim the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship. Two years ago, Ohio made NCAA Tournament waves by upsetting Georgetown as a No. 14 seed.
"They seem like a great group and it's an honor to play them," Michigan sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. said. "No one's bad going into the NCAA Tournament, everyone's good or great.
"We're looking for great competition."
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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Comments
johntithof@gmail.com
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
THANK GOD THIS IS NOT THE OHIO TEAM THAT GIVES OUT FREE TATOO'S.MGOBLUE
cjh
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
GO BLUE!! Show the NCAA what you can do!!! Thanks for a great season - you sure gave us a lot of joy!!
XTR
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 5:18 a.m.
The 4 seed is just about right with Wisky, Indiana and Louisville. 3 seed is too high for a team that flopped in the B1G tournament, actually if the B1G tournament is a barometer of the NCAA tourney, UM would be fortunate to win 2 and then lose to UNC by 20 in the Sweet Sixteen. Of course it is not over until it is over but the performance in B1G tournament is not very inspiring. Is this team folding in the end? or are they ready to shock the world?
Theo's Brother
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:44 a.m.
With all of these flaming trolls invading AnnArbor.com, it means Michigan must be doing something right! Hokeamania and Beileive (Beilein) has Michigan where it needs to be in the two biggest collegiate sports! Great days ahead for years to come! Hail.
trigg7
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:57 a.m.
No, just lol at all you mike heart's....o i guess 1 turney in what twenty some years is doing something right! What high goal you have.
trigg7
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.
One and done fore SCum. bluenella,are you joking, all you guys do is point to the past. aarox, good call on the final game. What a joke. An 8 seed is even to high. How fitting that they were playing the FLOP FIVE on another chanel wile MSU was racking up another banner! Well you know the drill pencil MSU in the final 4 or you might as well not play,that must just kill you SCum fans, lol.
aarox
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 12:09 a.m.
4 seeds don't go one and done very often. I'm open to a friendly wager on this one. I don't expect tOOSU to compete.
mookienation
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 11:05 p.m.
Cool.
Steve McQueen
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.
Beat Ohio. The ethical one.
Brian Stewart
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
A team with a good big man in the paint has given us fits. I see us winning the first 2. Then it will get tough if we can't defend under the basket.
aarox
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
Our buddies on ESPN just reported that we should be an 8 seed. Way to go Digger.
aarox
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:23 a.m.
Actually it wasn't Digger. I'm just PO'd at his picks for the dance. The 8 seed comes from the BPI ratings.
Tom
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
Walverines gonna rush the court if they beat OH-IO? Was that an act of desperation in Ann Arbor, or what?
Engineer
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
A 4 seed hmm. Our co-champs were a number 1 and 2. Kind of shows you what the selection committee thinks of our coaching staff and their ability to recruit and coach. This team is entirly Beilien's and he recruited all of these kids and yes they overachieved in the big ten but at cruch time reality has set in. We needed OT to take out the tenth seeded big ten team and then the verry next day we got smoked. The progress by this staff has been almost glacial pace. It appears that better recruits are coming but Matta and Izzo continue to out recruit this staff on a yearly basis. With the Michigan brand behind them and the history of BB excellence here there is no reason for this. It will be interesting to see how long Mr Brandon likes getting torched by the buc nuts.
j
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
Good point Goofus, I think MSU got the 1 seed because they had the #1 Strength of Schedule, When discussing last teams in tourney chair also pointed out that Drexel had a 200 or 300 ranked non conference schedule and Iona's was 41. Michigan needs to get some more road wins too.
XTR
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 5:20 a.m.
What is your problem with 4 seed? That is punishment for laying an egg against OSU and Minnesota but the 1 and 2 seeds were both 1 and 1 against UM in the regular season with UM undermanned.
Goofus
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:45 a.m.
I don't know if Belien sets the schedule, but quitting playing weak non-conf schedules would help greatly. Izzo and Matta know this well, but UM keeps scheduling alot of powderpuff in the early season, and hence you get what you get.
Melvin
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:19 a.m.
a championship*
Melvin
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
Have you seen our recruiting class coming in? It fits the team needs. With this being BB first succesful 4 year recuits(Novak 1 star, Douglass 1/2 a star) winning the regular season title seems preety good. Just think what he can do with 4 to 5 star recruits with 4 years to work with them. I want to see Izzo or Matta have 1 star and a 1/2 star recruit and win hampionship regular season title.
mookienation
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:57 a.m.
Just think... Butler made it to the championship game last season as an EIGHT seed. Anything can happen! :)
riverraisin
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:53 a.m.
I wonder if the fans of this ohio team dress up in clown outfits and wear nuts around their necks like the fans of that other ohio team?
rightmind250
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:49 a.m.
I hope they do, if they do they will kick your butt the same way.
katmando
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
only nuts of the other teams
SalineBob
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:52 a.m.
Go Green. Go White. Go Bobcats.
j
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
the bobcats colors are green and white, like MSU
riverraisin
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
Go LIU How embarrassing it will be when green becomes the first 1 seed in history to go down in the first round
Goofus
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
I am interested in seeing how the tourney goes for UM. I'm guessing an Elite 8 finish based on the bracket. This team has kept my interest all year and I want to see how this turns out. Possible NC vs. UM in the Elite 8....oh boy.
Goofus
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
My bad. Too bad after all these years A2dotcom has still not updated their software so we can edit our own posts.
mookienation
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:53 a.m.
Michigan would play UNC in the Sweet 16. An Elite Eight game would probably be against Kansas.
rightmind250
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
Note to the Bobcats: Force Trey to go to his left. he'll score about 5 points. Don't cover hardaway at the 3 pt line. He'll throw up bricks all night. Follow this formula and you will be playing your end of the bench with 6 minutes to go.
rightmind250
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:12 a.m.
Stupid? It got your attention didn't it? It doesn't take talent to watch hardaway throw up bricks. I can do it from my coach.
johnnya2
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:53 a.m.
Yeah that's the ticket. Of course it would hep if they got some players with the talent level of Sullinger or Craft or Buford. Stupid comment
aarox
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:25 a.m.
I like our bracket. We get Temple then NC and will match up well against both. Rather be us than Wisky - they get Vandy then Cuse. That will get ugly quick. Indy will get to the elite 8 but no further.
mookienation
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
rightmind, Good one. We shoot just over 35% from threes. That's not fantastic but it's still better than North Carolina, Syracuse, Marquette, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Louisville to name a few. Besides, even if we shot just 20%, we're still a perimeter team.
rightmind250
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
mookie, A perimeter team? You guys should be mason's. You throw up enough bricks.
heartbreakM
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
Remember, March 1989, Michigan got blown out in its last game by Illinois (sorta like Ohio (the other Ohio) did to us yesterday). Then in the sweet 16, they played UNC and WON!!! Though there is the old phrase, "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it", let's hope that it changes to those who remember history fondly can reacommplish it.
aarox
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:14 a.m.
Agree mookie, it would be tough to find another top-10 team that we could match up with this well. Hate to say it, but we need to 'live by the three' for a little while longer.
mookienation
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:40 a.m.
IF we make it to a Sweet 16 match up against UNC: One of the Tar Heel's biggest weaknesses is defending perimeter teams (us!). Of course, we'll have to make our shots, but it should mean easier looks than we had yesterday.
vi4mi4
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:10 a.m.
..Ball Time.. Go Blue! v
Kristin
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Woo! Go Bobcats!
michboy40
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 12:01 a.m.
On a negative note, it is well known that Ohio has been offended by our use of their university name as a punch line for the bigger school. On a positive note, we get a chance to avenge our loss to Ohio on Saturday. We can't sleep on these guys, no doubt.
katmando
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
UofM is lucky to not be playing in the WNIT. A 4th seed oh please, and the MAC only gets one team in!
bluenella
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
I don't give a damn about yesterday, it's history. We are regular conference Big Ten Co-Champs and now we're heading to NCAA tourney. "Give it your all," Wolverines. GO BLUE!
aarox
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:21 a.m.
spoken like a true Wolverine. Thank goodness for selective memory! As for me, I care, and am still embarrassed that we couldn't even show up for the bell.
bigblue
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
when will we find out what time the game is and what channel will it be on?
rightmind250
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
too funny. I see a first round upset. The mighty bobcats will make Hoke and beeline understand who Ohio is.
DennisP
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 6:37 a.m.
"I see a first round upset." Hate to tell you this but your seeing eye dog put his money on the Wolverines.
heartbreakM
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:14 a.m.
wrongmind: Michigan is a fundamentally tough team who is difficult to play if you have not seen their style of play. Unless Ohio gets off a lot of threes or has an excellent big man inside, I think they will make Hoke smile just as it will make B-line smile.
Theo's Brother
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
We already know who "Ohio" is. We beat them in football 40-34! "Rightmind" = pure irony
genetracy
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:27 p.m.
A number 4 seed. Boy, that is generous. Are we sure they did get put inot the women's bracket by mistake?
treetowncartel
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
It only helps OSU and MSU for Michigan to have a good ranking/seed since they both took a loss at Chrysler Center. What happened to rooting for your conference foes?
sandokan
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
Ha Ha Ha. The selection committee has a good sense for humor. Playing OHIO? Wait,wait, you just got beat yesterday by OHIO by 20 something points. And now you are going to play them again? Ha Ha Ha!
JustfortheRecord
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:17 a.m.
I understood your joke, sandokan, and enjoyed. it. Aggatt: not in touch with current trends in UM vocabulary.
aggatt
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
umm, different Ohio, but nice try!
garrisondyer
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 11:03 p.m.
Time to dance. Let's go Blue! .... by the way, wake up! Can't have any more horrible games like yesterday's.
ferdcom
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 10:55 p.m.
I thought we should call them the "Ohio State" Bobcats. Let's not give our opponents the respect of using their real names. They're still from Ohio and should be insulted ant chance we get.