Michigan
In a year where college basketball is wide open it is almost impossible to identify the best team in the country. All of the top teams have flaws and are susceptible to being beaten on any given night. But if I had to pick a team it’d be the Michigan Wolverines.
Michigan is no doubt one of the most talented teams in the nation. Led by sophomore point guard Trey Burke, the Wolverines are balanced offensively and have weapons all over the floor. Burke is arguably the best point guard in the entire country and one of the favorites for player of the year. Tim Hardaway Jr. is a talented wing who can do a little bit of everything from spreading the floor with his shooting to getting to the rim and finishing. Freshman Nik Stauskas is one of the best shooters in college basketball and one of those guys who you are genuinely surprised when he misses.
If Michigan has any weaknesses, it’s on the interior. Jordan Morgan, who is currently injured, is a big body who can compete physically with just about anybody. However, his offensive ability is limited. To win it all, the Wolverines will need Morgan to step up his offensive game and get points inside.
Michigan, despite its weaknesses, is clearly a favorite to win the tourney.
-Alex Ross
Indiana
Indiana, the team that began the season at No. 1 and has regained the top spot, is the best team in College Basketball.
With Florida being upset by Arkansas Tuesday evening, an already murky picture at the top of the AP rankings became cloudier. Indiana is now poised to maintain their No. 1 ranking for the rest of the year. The schedule only gets more difficult, but they have racked up five wins in a row since their last loss to Wisconsin including topping Michigan.
The Hoosiers boast a deep and talented team led by sophomore Cody Zeller. Zeller contributes nearly 17 points a night to the Hoosiers’ 83.8 points per game, which is good for second best in the nation. The remainder of their schedule is tough as nails. Indiana faces five more top-25 teams before season’s end.
History favors the Hoosiers however, as according to an ESPN news services article, the last time Indiana were ranked No. 1 for “at least six different weeks” they stayed the No. 1 team all year as they ran the table going 32-0 in 1975-76. With the 20-2 start, Indiana should finish the season as the best team in college basketball.
When it is all said and done, it should be the Hoosiers crowned champions on April 8th.
-David Israel
