"No. 1 vs. No. 2. Michigan vs. Duke on Saturday has been circled on calendars of men's college hoops diehards since it was announced in June. With both teams ranked in the preseason top 10, it was always going to be one of the most anticipated nonconference games of the season -- especially because it was scheduled in February, offering a marquee respite from the meat and potatoes of conference games."
"But thanks to Arizona and UConn losing two games apiece over the past couple of weeks, this game is now more than just two potential Final Four contenders stepping out of league play to face off on a neutral court. It's No. 1 vs. No. 2, according to our Power Rankings -- and nearly every single metric. Michigan is No. 1 in six of seven NCAA team sheet metrics, ranking No. 2 in the BPI."
"Michigan left zero doubt about which team was the best in men's college basketball, going into Mackey Arena and cruising past Purdue in a game that wasn't as close as the 11-point final margin indicated. The biggest positive for the Wolverines was that this win wasn't due to their elite frontcourt and overwhelming size; instead, the backcourt shined for coach Dusty May on Tuesday."
Michigan and Duke meet in a highly anticipated February nonconference showdown after both entered the season ranked in the preseason top 10. Recent losses by Arizona and UConn elevated the matchup to a No. 1 vs. No. 2 contest across most metrics and the Power Rankings. Michigan ranks first in six of seven NCAA team-sheet metrics and second in the BPI; Duke ranks near the top across metrics as well. Michigan has one loss; Duke has two close losses. Michigan delivered a convincing road win at Purdue, with an effective backcourt performance and notable contributions from Elliot Cadeau and bench scorers.
Read at ESPN.com
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