The University of Michigan basketball team is ranked second in the nation at the time of this writing and I get asked a lot about their legitimacy.  People ask me if they've "played anyone," or "can they sustain the momentum they've built?" I don't think any team in the country will run the table, so it's not a question of whether they can keep winning, but how they will respond when they eventually do lose.  And that is where leadership and continuity comes into play.  Teams that reach their ultimate goals are the teams that get along, buy into a "team" concept and handle any adversity-and make no mistake about it-every team deals with some adversity throughout the year, whether it be during a game or following an unexpected result of one. For those who think UM hasn't played anybody, they're sorely mistaken.  Michigan has an RPI of 2 and a strength of schedule of 14 in the country, so they couldn't have played all stiffs. Just know that every team in America plays the lower level schools because there is no way to play the top teams from every conference every year when you already play in challenging conferences like the Big Ten or ACC.  When you fill out your NCAA Tournament bracket, you often times pencil in the club with the best backcourt to go a long way right?  Well, Michigan might have the best in the country with Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. I spoke with an NBA scout the other day and while discussing Burke, I mentioned he was scoreless in the first half against NC State, but ended with 18. It proved he can concentrate on getting team mates involved when needed, but still take over a game when he has to. He's scored in double digits every single game this year and his numbers at this stage are better than Chris Paul's as a sophomore at Wake Forest. He averages better than 18-pts and 7-assists and shoots better than 53%....for a point guard! Burke, before the game against Northwestern, had 62 assists and just 8 turnovers in his previous eight games.  That is eye-popping and it's a statistic that jumps out at scouts. Hardaway has improved his ball handling and leadership.  He is confident and he has found ways to affect the game besides always shooting and scoring.  UM is athletic; can beat you in the half court or in transition; with its backcourt or front court and, what used to be their achilles-rebounding, has now become a strength.  Only two teams have out-rebounded the Wolverines so far this year.  I don't know if they will win the Big Ten or an NCAA title, but I do know as one of four unbeatens in the country, they are worthy of their #2 ranking so far and have garnered the rightful national attention.