ESPN's Joe Lunardi has had Michigan projected as a No. 5 or No. 6 seed in a back-and-forth way since the Wolverines hit their drought. But after a massive win over a good Purdue t

Michigan center Danny Wolf (1) defends Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) AP

It was a game against the Wolverines in February that showcased Purdue's defense fading. It's gone further adrift rather than shoring it up like the Boilers had shown.