Michigan basketball faces a 'monster week' in the Big Ten

Michigan is 18-1 after beating Ohio State and will play unbeaten No. 7 Nebraska on Tuesday and No. 10 Michigan State on Friday in a pivotal Big Ten week.

Trey Burke had his jersey retired Friday at Michigan's Crisler Center as the program marked a past Final Four run. The current Wolverines sit at 18-1 after beating Ohio State and are entering a critical stretch of conference play. Michigan will face No. 7 Nebraska on Tuesday and No. 10 Michigan State at the Breslin Center on Friday. Coach Dusty May called the upcoming schedule a "monster week." Key details: - Michigan is 18-1 following its win over Ohio State and has won its past four games by double digits since a Jan. 10 loss to Wisconsin. - Nebraska is 20-0 and 9-0 in Big Ten play; the Cornhuskers often feature many 3-point attempts and space the floor with senior Rienk Mast. - Michigan State is 18-2 and 8-1 in conference play; the Spartans rank No. 1 in KenPom defensive efficiency and defensive rebounding, and guard Jeremy Fears leads the nation in assist rate. - Michigan has not won at the Breslin Center since 2018, where it will play Michigan State on Friday. Summary: These two games will be pivotal for the Big Ten race and each team's national standing, with immediate implications for conference positioning and NCAA seeding. The schedule this week places Michigan against two top-10 opponents in quick succession, and the outcomes will help clarify the teams' trajectories in conference play.