The College Basketball Belt
Michigan
18Reigns
691Days held
45Defenses
1965First reign
Every reign
- 18th reignBeat Arizona 91–73 · lost to UConnApr 4, 2026 – Nov 6, 2026216 days · 2 def.
- 17th reignBeat Tennessee 76–68 · lost to VillanovaMar 19, 2022 – Mar 24, 20225 days · 0 def.
- 16th reignBeat Florida State 76–58 · lost to UCLAMar 28, 2021 – Mar 30, 20212 days · 0 def.
- 15th reignBeat Wisconsin 61–52 · lost to Penn StateFeb 9, 2019 – Feb 12, 20193 days · 0 def.
- 14th reignBeat Villanova 73–46 · lost to WisconsinNov 14, 2018 – Jan 19, 201966 days · 14 def.
- 13th reignBeat Michigan State 75–64 · lost to VillanovaMar 3, 2018 – Apr 2, 201830 days · 6 def.
- 12th reignBeat Syracuse 61–56 · lost to LouisvilleApr 6, 2013 – Apr 8, 20132 days · 0 def.
- 11th reignBeat Illinois 72–64 · lost to Ohio StateFeb 21, 2006 – Feb 25, 20064 days · 0 def.
- 10th reignBeat Michigan State 72–67 · lost to IowaJan 25, 2006 – Feb 4, 200610 days · 2 def.
- 9th reignBeat Indiana 70–64 · lost to IllinoisJan 8, 2001 – Jan 12, 20014 days · 0 def.
- 8th reignBeat Purdue 76–67 · lost to UCLAMar 8, 1998 – Mar 14, 19986 days · 1 def.
- 7th reignBeat Duke 81–73 · lost to IndianaDec 12, 1997 – Jan 5, 199824 days · 5 def.
- 6th reignBeat Indiana 61–50 · lost to Michigan StateFeb 18, 1995 – Feb 20, 19952 days · 0 def.
- 5th reignBeat Illinois 69–59 · lost to Michigan StateJan 16, 1995 – Jan 21, 19955 days · 0 def.
- 4th reignBeat George Washington 72–64 · lost to North CarolinaMar 25, 1993 – Apr 4, 199310 days · 2 def.
- 3rd reignBeat Seton Hall 80–79 · lost to ArizonaApr 2, 1989 – Nov 25, 1989237 days · 0 def.
- 2nd reignBeat Purdue 104–68 · lost to North CarolinaMar 6, 1987 – Mar 13, 19877 days · 1 def.
- 1st reignBeat Illinois 89–83 · lost to Ohio StateJan 8, 1965 – Mar 7, 196558 days · 12 def.
Same school, other belts
8,034Longest wait between reigns, days (1965–1987)
1,288Average wait, days
6Days since the last reign ended (2026)
16–3Best belt season (2018–19)
Belt record by opponent
| Opponent | W–L | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 4–7 | Games → |
| Michigan State | 4–4 | Games → |
| Illinois | 5–2 | Games → |
| Duke | 1–6 | Games → |
| Purdue | 6–0 | Games → |
| Ohio State | 1–4 | Games → |
| Wisconsin | 4–1 | Games → |
| Penn State | 3–1 | Games → |
| Northwestern | 3–0 | Games → |
| UCLA | 0–3 | Games → |
| North Carolina | 1–2 | Games → |
| Villanova | 1–2 | Games → |
| Iowa | 1–1 | Games → |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | Games → |
| Arizona | 1–1 | Games → |
Seasons with the belt
2026–272025–262021–222020–212018–192017–182012–132005–062000–011997–981994–951992–931989–901988–891986–871964–65
Most belt games for the program
| Player | Games | Wins | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Matthews | 27 | 23 | 368 |
| 2 | Jordan Poole | 27 | 23 | 307 |
| 3 | Zavier Simpson | 27 | 23 | 237 |
| 4 | Jon Teske | 27 | 23 | 199 |
| 5 | Eli Brooks | 27 | 21 | 107 |
| 6 | Isaiah Livers | 25 | 21 | 143 |
| 7 | Ignas Brazdeikis | 19 | 16 | 262 |
| 8 | Austin Davis | 19 | 16 | 33 |
| 9 | Brandon Johns Jr. | 16 | 13 | 37 |
| 10 | C.J. Baird | 9 | 8 | 6 |
Belt games by season
| Season | Games | W–L | Took it | Lost it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | |
| 2025–26 | 2 | 2–0 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020–21 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018–19 | 19 | 16–3 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | 8 | 7–1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012–13 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010–11 | 1 | 0–1 | ||
| 2005–06 | 6 | 4–2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2001–02 | 1 | 0–1 | ||
| 2000–01 | 4 | 1–3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997–98 | 10 | 8–2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1994–95 | 4 | 2–2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992–93 | 5 | 3–2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991–92 | 2 | 0–2 | ||
| 1989–90 | 1 | 0–1 | 1 | |
| 1988–89 | 1 | 1–0 | 1 | |
| 1986–87 | 4 | 2–2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978–79 | 2 | 0–2 | ||
| 1975–76 | 3 | 0–3 | ||
| 1973–74 | 1 | 0–1 | ||
| 1965–66 | 1 | 0–1 | ||
| 1964–65 | 14 | 13–1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960–61 | 1 | 0–1 | ||
| 1951–52 | 2 | 0–2 |