All articles tagged with #michigan
With 16 Top-25 teams losing this week, Duke’s 37-point win over Syracuse and a late upset of Michigan could push the Blue Devils to No. 1 in Monday’s AP Top 25. Michigan would likely stay near the top, Arizona rises, and Iowa State and Houston also move, while Florida surges and other contenders shift in the Week 16 projections.
Duke handed No. 1 Michigan its first defeat after the Wolverines climbed to the top, 68-63, in a tight Duel in the District. Cameron Boozer supplied the late scoring for Duke, including the final bursts that helped seal the win, while Yaxel Lendeborg started hot for Michigan but was bottled up for much of the game. The result likely ends Michigan’s brief run as the top-ranked team as Duke, arguably the nation’s best opponent this season, dampens the Wolverines’ ascent.
Duke defeated No. 1 Michigan 68-63 at the Capital Showcase in Washington, D.C., with Cameron Boozer totaling 18 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists despite foul trouble, and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg pacing the Wolverines with 21 points. The game had a tournament-like atmosphere, Duke weathered Michigan’s pressure and Boozer’s foul trouble, received solid depth from Nikolas Khamenia, and closed it out at the line to improve to 25-2.
Top-ranked Michigan was upset by No. 3 Duke 68-63 in a marquee nonconference showdown at Capital One Arena, a game that drew the season’s largest neutral-site crowd and marked a rare stumble for a projected NCAA No. 1 seed.
No. 1 Michigan fell 68-63 to No. 3 Duke in Washington, D.C., after Aday Mara ran into early foul trouble, Michigan’s guards Cason and McKenney provided a spark, Nimari Burnett, Cadeau, and Roddy Gayle Jr. went quiet for a stretch, Yaxel Lendeborg heated up and hit a late clutch shot, both teams struggled from deep, and Duke controlled the boards (41-28) to seal the win.
Duke leads Michigan 35-33 at halftime as Cam Boozer contributes 9 points and 4 assists and Yaxel Lendeborg has 16 for Michigan; Cadeau injures his left arm and Mara has three fouls, shaping a tense second half. Duke opens the third with a 9-0 run to take a 38-33 lead, setting up a competitive finish between the top-ranked Wolverines and the stars of Duke.
A February 21, 2026 preview by Adam Burke analyzes the Michigan vs. Duke college basketball matchup, providing context for the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, highlighting key players and factors, and outlining betting odds and a projection for the result.
The No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 3 Duke clash in Washington, D.C. is a high-profile affair that could boost the winner toward a top seed and amplify national title chatter, but the loss would cause only modest hits to seeding, making the game exciting and prestige-filled without severely altering the bracket.
No. 1 Michigan faces No. 3 Duke in Washington, D.C., a marquee weekend showdown seen as a potential Final Four preview, with ESPN College GameDay in town and NBA-caliber talent as both teams jockey for the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
SB Nation ranks eight national championship contenders for the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament, with Michigan No. 1 ahead of Duke, Houston, Arizona, Purdue, Florida, Iowa State, and Illinois; the piece discusses how NIL and the transfer portal have reshaped rosters and profiles key players like Keaton Wagler (Illinois), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Braden Smith (Purdue), Koa Peat and Brayden Burries (Arizona), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Cam Boozer (Duke), and Michigan’s transfer-led frontcourt and depth as it nears Selection Sunday.
Michigan has overtaken Arizona as the betting favorite to win the 2026 national title after Arizona's first two losses, riding an 11-game win streak and a strong resume that could yield a No. 1 seed; Duke and Houston remain in the mix, with Iowa State, Illinois, Florida and UConn also contending as Selection Sunday approaches.
Michigan jumped out to a 15-0 run and never trailed Purdue, routing the Boilermakers 91-80 behind a 13-for-23 night from three (56.5%), a strong front-court effort from Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara, and 17 points/7 assists from Elliot Cadeau, while Kaufman-Renn led Purdue with 27 points and 11 rebounds as Michigan’s perimeter shooting dictated the game.
Michigan is parting ways with general manager Sean Magee, who joined in March 2024 to oversee recruiting, player personnel and NIL initiatives. Magee helped land top QB Bryce Underwood in the 2025 cycle and played a key role in roster stability during the coaching transition to Kyle Whittingham, keeping a core group intact despite 27 players departing and positioning Michigan for the 2026 season. Magee also brings a distinctive background as a former Navy offensive lineman, Surface Warfare Officer and Chicago Bears chief of staff.
No. 1 Michigan used a blazing start and a productive bench to topple No. 7 Purdue 91-80 at Mackey Arena, widening its grip on the Big Ten title race. The Wolverines exploded for a 48-28 halftime lead behind sharp 3-point shooting (13 of 23 from deep) and 16 second-chance points on offensive rebounds, then maintained control as six players scored in double figures, including 17 from Elliot Cadeau. Purdue struggled with missed layups and could not slow Michigan’s depth or pace, with Braden Smith scoring 20 and Trey Kaufman-Renn 27 in a losing effort. The result cements Michigan as the favorite in the conference as it chases a league crown.
Michigan claims the No. 1 spot in Andy Katz's Power 37 rankings, with Duke and Houston at Nos. 2 and 3; Arizona drops to No. 4 after its first loss to Kansas, and the full 37-team field features several reshuffles and three teams—Texas A&M, BYU and USC—dropping out.