BUFFALO, NY – Michigan basketball warmed up in frigid Buffalo Wednesday, the day before they entered the 2026 NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed. Fresh off a loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament final,

The message inside the program is simple: win the weekend. Michigan has done exactly that in each of its last six NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching at least the Sweet 16 every time—marking the second-longest such streak in school history. But the Wolverines say the past is only useful if it sharpens the present.

Michigan basketball writer Tony Garcia deciphers two reasons for confidence and two for concern as U-M looks to reach its first Final Four since 2018.

Wolverines excel on and off the court. Seven men's basketball players achieve Academic All-Big Ten honors, balancing demanding coursework with championship-level play.

Michigan Wolverines star Yaxel Landeborg said in a recent interview he was offered between $7 and $9 million to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Men's bracket pool: Join the Wolverines Wire men's March Madness Bracket Challenge here! Be sure to also join the USA TODAY Bracket Challenge for your chance to win up to $40,000 in prizes and a shot at a $1 million perfect bracket.

Former NBA player and Detroit native Jalen Rose believes this year is going to be special for basketball in the "Motor City." He sees the Michigan Wolverines and the Detroit Pistons making a deep run in their respective competitions.

"Something I had to grow at was talking more," Michigan basketball guard L.J. Cason said. "Now that that's all I can do, I'm taking that role."

Open the Youtube video On this episode ofThe Wolverine Podcast, Clayton Sayfie, Anthony Broome and Chris Balas preview Michigan Wolverines basketball in the NCAA Tournament, predict if they will cover the spread against Howard and discuss spring football takeaways from the first Kyle Whittingham press conference in Ann Arbor.