Michigan Wolverines: Travis Conlan
Michigan earns highest ranking since 1997
Now, on Monday, Michigan claimed its highest ranking in either the Associated Press or USA Today polls since 1997 after being tabbed the No. 11 team in the nation in the AP media poll Monday. Michigan also moved up to No. 13 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll.
The Wolverines were the No. 8 team in the nation on Jan. 2 and 4 in 1997 -- splitting a pair of games with Ohio State (a 73-71 loss) and Northwestern (a 75-57 win). The split knocked the Wolverines from eighth to 16th in that poll and while Michigan had come close to reaching those numbers again, it never did.
Until Monday.
This season's Michigan team is in contention for the Big Ten title, currently at 20-7 overall and 10-4 in the Big Ten, tied for second place and one game behind Michigan State.
The 1996-97 team, which had that lofty ranking, was led by the late Robert "Tractor" Traylor and current Michigan director of basketball operations, Travis Conlan. The team fell apart from early season success, finishing 24-11 and failing to make the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines did, however, win the NIT that season.
Donuts & DJs: Morning on campus 
They were dancing, almost 50 of them.
This was entertainment at the top of the Mortenson Family Plaza, a way to stay warm Saturday morning as they waited in line for wristbands allowing them into Saturday's College GameDay morning show and later into Crisler Center as No. 6 Ohio State plays No. 19 Michigan at 9 p.m. on Saturday night.
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Michigan basketball moves up in polls
It is starting to show in the rankings as well. The Wolverines picked up a No. 13 ranking in the latest ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, the team's highest ranking in either poll since they were the No. 12 team in the country at the end of the 1997-98 season.
The Wolverines moved up two spots, to No. 16, in the latest Associated Press media poll. They have been as high as No. 14 in the country in the AP poll this season.
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Michael Rothstein
Michael Rothstein joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Michigan for AnnArbor.com, Notre Dame for the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette and a host of colleges for the Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, Va.). A Syracuse graduate and an East Meadow, N.Y. native, he lives in Ann Arbor, Mich. He can be reached at michaelrothsteinespn@gmail.com.
Tom Van Haaren
Tom VanHaaren joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Michigan for three years at MGoBlog.com. VanHaaren and his wife currently reside in Royal Oak, Mich. He can be reached at TomVHESPN@gmail.com.
Chantel Jennings
Chantel Jennings joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Michigan athletics for three years at The Michigan Daily. Chantel graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in English and Spanish and lives in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jenningsespn@gmail.com.
Bob McClellan
Bob McClellan joined ESPN.com in 2011 after more than 20 years as a sports editor and sports writer at Rivals.com, The (Nashville) Tennessean and The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. He is a Northwestern University graduate. He resides in Franklin, Tenn. Email him at robert.x.mcclellan.-nd@espn.com.