Michigan Basketball will learn about itself in brutal 5-game stretch
At this point in the season, Michigan basketball is still a big unknown. But after the next five games, that will no longer be the case.
Is anyone else sick of watching Michigan basketball play UC Riverside, Chaminade or some of the other cast of characters the Wolverines have faced this season? The games against LSU and VCU were fun, the other five, just were.
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Michigan basketball actually struggled in a couple of those games, but for the most part, UM beat North Florida, Central Michigan, Chaminade, Southern Miss and UC Riverside with ease. The Wolverines have played two challenging games and in those, they are 1-1.
But is that enough to know much about this Michigan team? With the youth and inexperience, probably not. However, the next five games will still tell us much about Michigan’s fortunes in 2017-18.
When the Wolverines pay a visit to Chapel Hill Wednesday, they will be the facing the 13th ranked team in the country according to Kenpom in North Carolina. But after that, the schedule isn’t much easier.
Saturday, Michigan basketball will open Big Ten play with Indiana (79). Then the Wolverines will travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State (69) Dec. 4, before hosting UCLA (39) and playing at Texas (28).
Michigan basketball is currently 40th in the Kenpom rankings, but after five straight games against team ranked in the top 80, we will find out if that’s justified.
Michigan Wolverines Basketball
The game against North Carolina Wednesday will certainly be the biggest challenge. The Tar Heels are legit. The defending national champs did just lose to Michigan State by 18, but on their home floor, they will be tough to beat.
However, games against Indiana and Ohio State are both winnable. UCLA is very beatable at home and Texas, while very talented, isn’t a juggernaut. Especially since the Wolverines have the size to combat Mohamad Bamba.
Yet, the most exciting thing about these five games, is that we will finally learn just how good the Wolverines can be. We know what Charles Matthews, Moe Wagner, Duncan Robinson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rakhman can do, but outside of that, there are a lot of unknowns.
How will freshman point guard Eli Brooks handle these teams? How will Michigan’s depth, much of which is unproven, hold up?
So far, we have very little solid evidence when it comes to Michigan basketball. The two games against LSU and VCU aren’t enough to make a judgement. But these next five games are, starting Wednesday night.
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By the time this stretch ends Dec. 9, Michigan basketball will have a much better idea of where it’s at and just how good it can be.