All the hype about the B1G basketball season primarily surrounded Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, and for good reason. Those three programs had plenty of talent returning and were considered the teams with the best chance at a lengthy postseason run.

Midway through the college basketball season, though, Michigan has emerged as arguable the B1G’s best chance to win a national championship. The Wolverines are 12-1 this season, and sit atop the B1G standings in Juwan Howard’s second season as the head coach.

Tuesday, Michigan added another impressive win to its resume, pounding Maryland 87-63 in Ann Arbor. Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon was thoroughly impressed by the Wolverines, and paid quite the compliment to Howard’s squad.

“They’re good enough to win the whole thing,” Turgeon said after the game. “Guys are bought into their roles, so it could be a special year for them if they get hot at the right time.”

Right now, Michigan is playing as hot as any team in the B1G. The question is, can the Wolverines sustain it? The league is considered the best in college basketball, so there’s likely to be at least another loss or two in the future for the team.

But if Michigan continues to play as well as it has through the first two months of the season, it’s going to have a great shot to win a national title. It would be quite the achievement for Howard so early in his coaching career.

Michigan is back in action on Friday, when it takes on Purdue in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers are winners of four straight.