No. 2 Michigan downs Purdue 68-53

Purdue guard Terone Johnson grabs a rebound against Michigan forward Glenn Robinson III during the first half Thursday.

ANN ARBOR -- There will be a new No. 1 in college basketball next week.

Today, the Michigan Wolverines made the case it should be them.

Sort of.

No. 2 UM inched closer to its first top ranking since 1992, brushing off an uneven start and cruising to a 68-53 victory over Purdue at Crisler Arena.

Trailing 40-39 early in the second half, the Wolverines answered with a 10-0 and later piled on. Guard Trey Burke led four Michigan players in double figures with 15 points.

To contend for the top spot in next week's poll, Michigan must win Sunday at Illinois, where it will face a familiar intersection. The Wolverines were ranked second and poised to ascend two weeks ago before falling at Ohio State.