ESPN's bracketology expert, Joe Lunardi, has stated that if Michigan wants its NCAA Tournament preference, to play its opening games in Philadelphia, it will need a loss from current No. 1 Duke. The Wolverines, who won the Big Ten championship with a 90-80 win over Michigan State, are currently ranked as a No. 2 seed. The tournament’s top overall seed can make its choice of early-round site. Despite Michigan's two losses this season being against Duke, Lunardi believes that their chances are strong. He also noted that Michigan's resume is better than Duke's and maybe two slivers better than Arizona.