Michigan Basketball Needs to be in Must-Win Mode vs Wisconsin
If the NCAA tournament was selected today, the Michigan basketball team would likely be in the field. But with a win over Wisconsin tonight, UM has a much better case.
The 2016-17 Michigan basketball team has been hard to figure out. But Thursday night against Wisconsin, inside Crisler Arena, it’s safe to say we will find out plenty.
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Like whether or not Michigan basketball is a legit NCAA tournament team.
A win tonight over the Badgers could a long way towards proving that for Michigan, while a loss means wrestling with the buddle all the way to Selection Sunday.
The good news is that Michigan has been a pretty good home team, especially in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are 5-1 and have won four straight since falling to Maryland, with three of the four wins coming by double digits. Two came in blowout fashion (Michigan State and Indiana).
Obviously, a shooting night like Michigan had in either of those games would help. The Wolverines, who beat the Hoosiers by 30 and the Spartans by 29, shot better than 60 percent in both outings and made a combined 21 3-pointers.
Of course, Wisconsin is much better than either of those teams. It’s arguably the best team in the Big Ten and has the No. 8 defense in the nation according to KenPom. The Wolverines, who are No. 29 in the rankings, have the No. 8 offense.
That means it could be the Michigan defense which decides things. The Wolverines rank 103rd, while the Badger offense ranks 36th. And with three studs in Nigel Hayes (13.6 PPG), Ethan Happ (14.2 PPG) and Bronson Koening (13.4), the Wolverines have their work cut out for them.
However, if we look a the first meeting, a 68-64 loss for Michigan basketball, there are signs of encouragement.
Michigan Wolverines Basketball
Truthfully, Michigan should have won the game. Derrick Walton Jr. was lights out. And the Wolverines led for much of the second half, before blowing the lead late.
At one point, the Wolverines went on a 17-2 run and led by eight points in the second half. They just couldn’t close the deal. If they get the chance Thursday, they must take advantage.
Michigan has just two home games remaining, then it’s four road games against Minnesota, Northwestern, Nebraska and Rutgers. The other home game is against Purdue.
That makes for no easy victories. But that’s not the reason tonight’s game is a must win for Michigan basketball. Because in reality it’s not.
The Wolverines can recover from a loss to Wisconsin; they can still make the tournament. But they need a defining win and the Badgers offer the perfect chance to get it.
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And maybe, with a win, Michigan could create some reasonable distance between itself and the bubble.