Michigan’s reward for its 11-point win at Purdue is a Saturday evening showcase game against Duke (6:30 p.m., ESPN) in Washington, D.C.
The February non-conference game is a scheduling wrinkle that worked better than anyone would have dreamed in the summer. It’s the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country on KenPom facing off on a neutral site that is as close as you can get to the Final Four preview six weeks early.
It’s the first Michigan-Duke meeting since 2013, an NBA Draft showcase of Cam Boozer versus Yaxel Lendeborg, and the best two teams in the sport.
Duke is 24-2 with two losses by a combined 4 points — a buzzer-beater at North Carolina and a second-half collapse against Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden. The Blue Devils are one of three teams ranked in the top ten nationally in adjusted offense (7th) and defense (2nd), along with Michigan and Houston.
Anything can happen in March, but this feels like a game that we could absolutely see played again in Indianapolis.
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