It was announced Thursday that the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team will be ranked #18 in the initial USA Today basketball poll.

Michigan did enter the 2009-10 season at #15 however the inexperienced Wolverines ended up finishing the season at 15-17.

In their hunt to qualify for consecutive NCAA appearances for the first time since 1995-96, Michigan will return four starters and 12 players who saw game action last season.

Conference rivals Michigan State and Purdue failed to make the initial rankings.

Ref: AnnArbor.com, AnnArbor.com (image)