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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 06: Jordan Poole #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a second half basket with Charles Matthews #1 while playing the Indiana Hoosiers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 74-63. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) +

The Big Ten has turned into a two-team race between Michigan Basketball and Michigan State. Even with their loss to Wisconsin on Saturday, the Wolverines are the better team.

The Big Ten has put the disastrous 2017-18 season behind them where they only got four bids into the NCAA tournament. Teams like Wisconsin, Maryland, and Iowa are back to playing better basketball. Indiana and Ohio State are young but they have played good basketball at times this year also. Nebraska is trying to show they belong and Purdue still has Carsen Edwards leading the way. All of this could lead the Big Ten to get as many as 10 teams into the big dance this year. But even with all that, two teams have set themselves apart from the group: Michigan and Michigan State.

These two rivals have been playing like two of the best teams in the whole country and both have reasons why they think they are the best team in the state of Michigan. Unfortunately, we have to wait until February 24 for them to settle it on the court. They also play two weeks later on March 9 in what could be the second of three or if we are really lucky four games this year.

While we will probably know for sure who the best team is when they play it is fun to debate which team is better right now. They are currently ranked fifth and sixth in the latest AP poll and both teams have had long winning streaks this year. The Wolverines won 17 straight to start the year and Michigan State is currently on a 12 game winning streak of their own.

So which team is better and who has the inside track to win the very deep Big Ten this year. Both teams have very few flaws and lots of playmakers. What separates the two and who has the edge? We take a look at three reasons why the Wolverines are the better team right now.