Toledo plus 6 1/2 at Michigan
Motivation isn’t questioned when it comes to playing in the NCAA Tournament. Not so with the NIT.
This brings us to Michigan. The Wolverines were ranked No. 22 in the NCAA preseason poll. They finished 17-15, getting bounced from the Big Ten Conference Tournament in their opening game by Rutgers, 62-50, this past Thursday.
The result is Michigan wasn’t invited to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
Nor should have the Wolverines been selected for the NCAA Tournament. They didn’t deserve it with their mediocre record, no signature victories and a terrible home loss to Central Michigan, which went 5-13 in the Mid-American Conference and 10-21 overall.
Now the Wolverines host another MAC team, 27-7 Toledo. The Rockets won the MAC regular season league title for the third straight season. They reached the MAC Tournament championship game against another strong team, Kent State, while riding a 17-game win streak. However, Kent State defeated Toledo, 93-78, this past Saturday. No NCAA Tournament bid for Toledo.
No shame in losing to Kent State. However, that loss prevented Toledo from going to the NCAA Tournament. Such is life as a mid-major.
I don’t see Michigan being this many points better than Toledo especially when it’s the Rockets who should be the more motivated team taking on a Big Ten team.
Toledo holds a special grudge against Michigan and its coach, Juwan Howard. The Rockets and Wolverines were long-time scrimmage partners when John Beilein was Michigan’s coach. But that arrangement came to an end when Howard replaced Beilein. Toledo tried to schedule Michigan and other Big Ten teams. No dice. Big Ten teams wouldn’t do it perhaps fearing they had nothing to gain, but a lot to lose.
Now the Rockets get their chance.
I want to wish everybody good luck on the tournaments. My Tuesday card is headed by an NIT total looking to go 5-0 on my last five college basketball premium/free plays. I am 100-75 on my last 75 NBA premium/free plays.
If you’re interested in my sports service please email me at scriber26@gmail.com, or message me via Twitter. Best of luck and no bad beats!
