Michigan Basketball Accepts NIT Invitation

Michigan's season really did not play out very positively, but now the Wolverines will have a chance to at least hit the court again, work on some shortcomings and see if they can feel better when the season is truly over, compared to how they felt after losing to Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan is considered a No. 2 seed in the bottom right section of the bracket and will take on Toledo in the first round of the NIT on Tureday.

Michigan obviously finished the season just 17-15, with an outside chance at getting in the NCAA Tournament, but will now turn its attention to Toledo and the NIT.

Michigan obviously has the best big man in the NIT in Hunter Dickinson. The big fella will definitely give Toledo some real problems. Michigan's young, talented perimiater players — Dug McDaniel, Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin — will also be a lot for a Toledo team. However, the Rockets finished the season 27-7 and scored a whopping 86 points per game. They shoot the ball very well from the outside at a 40%-clip from three-point range. The Rockets also have MAC Player of the Year RayJ Dennis on the roster. The 6-2, 185-pounder scores just under 20 points per game and can get a bucket from all three levels.

Michigan has not been to the NIT since 2007 and will now have to dig deep and find a reason to play hard. It didn't look like they were ready for that against Rutgers, so now here they are. Speaking of Rutgers, they're the No. 1 on the same side of the bracket and will obviously be a tough out for anyone. The Wolverines might be most talented team in the NIT, but now it's just about playing efficiently and with tournament effort.