The Michigan Wolverines entered 2022-23 with reasonable hopes. The previous season was far from perfect with an 11-9 Big Ten record and early conference tournament collapse, but a fifth-straight Sweet 16 appearance helped make the previous campaign feel rosier when viewed in its entirety.
Out went four key contributors in the offseason and in came some talented, but not blue-chip freshman and a couple veteran transfers, leading to a No. 22 preseason ranking nationally and a third-place Big Ten finish as projected by the media. Both of these rankings felt fair and were marks that would likely put the team in position to make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament yet again.