John Beilein

When they faced their Big Ten opponents for the first time this season, members of the Michigan basketball team didn’t fare so well.

The Wolverines compiled a 3-7 record and a five-game losing streak that threatened to derail their season.

Now that the Wolverines are getting their second glimpses of conference foes, coach John Beilein thinks his young team is showing signs of growth and experience.

“As we watch film from these repeat games, our guys are saying, ‘Boy, we weren’t a very good then, were we?’ I think they recognize now there was a process they had to go through,” he said.

In those repeat games, the Wolverines (17-11, 7-8 Big Ten) are 4-1 so far with three games remaining on their regular-season schedule.

The Wolverines have become more patient waiting for their shots to develop, according to Beilein.

Michigan averages 64.9 points per conference game this season -- already the highest mark in Beilein's four-year tenure -- but the average has jumped to 68.2 against repeat teams on the schedule.

“They’re becoming better students about embracing how to win in college basketball,” he said.

And because of that, the Wolverines hold an outside chance at an NCAA Tournament invite entering the home stretch. ON DECK, WISCONSIN

To keep their hopes alive, Michigan will need a good home-court showing against Wisconsin (20-6, 10-4) on Wednesday night (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).

One of the Badgers’ strengths has been the same as Michigan’s lately -- strong shot selection.

Wisconsin’s Keaton Nankivil scored 22 points and tied a career high with a 5-for-5 effort from 3-point range against Penn State on Sunday, and 8-for-9 overall shooting effort.

“Our teaching clip today was the one he missed, and that’s a little tongue-in-cheek. My comment will be, ‘Make a shot, Keith,’” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said Monday.

“He was so effective because every one of his shots was a great shot, and he knocked them down. He had some of the same looks against Purdue, and didn’t quite nail them. This time, he just put it together.”

OFF THE DEEP END

Depth once was generally considered a good thing on a college basketball roster.

But now the Big Ten’s leading teams, Ohio State and Wisconsin, seem to be thriving despite the fact they’re playing with seven-man rotations. Does it matter?

“The core workouts, the conditioning … guys are eating better, taking care of their bodies in a better way,” Ryan said. “Teams can get by with six or seven. Not easily, but there are teams that can do it and get results.”

Beilein agreed.

“The great teams have a really short bench,” he said. “The seven- or eight-man rotation can work, but it depends on how you practice and the talent you have.”

Pete Bigelow covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.