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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WJBK/AP) - Michigan's follow-up to its national championship game appearance has been impressive so far. Despite losing three key players, the defensive-minded Wolverines have yet to lose this season and blew out then-No. 8 Villanova in a title-game rematch.
Two big tests come this week.
The seventh-ranked Wolverines (6-0) start the week with a prime time, marquee match-up against No. 11 North Carolina on Wednesday in Ann Arbor. Three days later, Michigan opens the early Big Ten season against No. 19 Purdue and preseason All-American guard Carsen Edwards.
"I don't think we're this juggernaut. We're just OK," Michigan coach John Beilein said following an 83-55 win over Chattanooga last week. "No matter what happens next week, we're going to keep growing and trying to get better."
It's gone pretty well so far.
Michigan lost Moe Wagner, Duncan Robinson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, leaving the Wolverines without three of their top four scorers from last year's team. But the Wolverines still play with a defensive fervor few teams can match and have allowed one team - George Washington - to eclipse 60 points this season.
It's still early in the season, but Michigan leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing 48.3 points per game, and its closest win was by 19 points.
The Tar Heels are loaded again this year with preseason All-American forward Luke Maye, Cameron Johnson and Kenny Williams back, playing alongside one of Roy Williams' best recruiting classes in Chapel Hill. North Carolina (6-1) suffered its first loss of the season to Texas in the Las Vegas Invitational, but bounced back by rolling over UCLA in the consolation game.
The Boilermakers (5-1) got huge news during the offseason. Edwards opted to return instead of leaving for the NBA and he hasn't disappointed, leading Purdue with 25.3 points per game while shooting 46 percent. Purdue's only loss came to No. 13 Virginia Tech. The Boilermakers play No. 15 Florida State on Wednesday before heading to Ann Arbor.
Get through this week with two wins and Michigan will be more than OK.