Michigan Basketball: How to watch, what to know about Rutgers
Michigan basketball takes on Rutgers Sunday. Here’s what you need to know and how to watch the Wolverines fourth game in eight days.
Using the schedule as an excuse can be weak, but seeing as Michigan basketball is about to play its fourth game in eight days, the Wolverines might have a legit complaint.
After taking on Michigan State on the road last Saturday, Michigan basketball played host to Maryland Monday and played at Nebraska Thursday. UM edged out Maryland in overtime, but were blown out by the Huskers on the road.
Yet, there is no shame to losing at Nebraska. The Huskers are No. 62 in the RPI and 5-3 in the Big Ten. It was only the Wolverines second lost outside the top 50. But LSU, which is 72 in the RPI still ranks as the worst loss.
That would not be true if Michigan basketball lost to Rutgers Sunday. The Scarlet Knights are 12-8 overall and 2-5 in the Big Ten. Rutgers is ranked No. 172 in the RPI, the lowest rating of any Big Ten team on the schedule.
So in that sense, it’s a must-win game for the Wolverines. Michigan plays at Purdue Thursday and can’t afford a second-straight loss. In terms of the Big Ten race, a loss to Rutgers would doom any hopes of a conference title. It’s already far fetched, considering UM is three games back of Purdue and Ohio State.
However, the Wolverines play both teams and outside of that, they play only one more top-100 team in conference. That could set them up for a 7, 8 or 9-win stretch to close the season, which certainly could put Michigan in the mix. But that’s getting way ahead of ourselves. UM needs to take care of business against Rutgers before anything.
Michigan looked absolutely dead against Nebraska and if it can’t find the energy to get up for Rutgers, it could be trouble. Here’s how to watch followed by a preview and a prediction for the game.
Game info:
Game 22: Michigan vs Rutgers
When: 12:00 PM EST
Where: Crisler Arena
TV: BTN
Streaming: BTN2Go
Radio: WWJ (950 AM) in Detroit
Preview:
There is no doubt the Big Ten is loaded. Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska. Those teams are all good. Then you have teams like Penn State, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Rutgers who are all capable of winning. There truly are no easy wins.
Michigan Wolverines Basketball
Case in point, Rutgers has beaten a ranked team already this season in Seton Hall. That 71-65 win came at home in December. The Scarlet Knights also took Michigan State to overtime in East Lansing, so they are no pushover.
Rutgers is fresh off an 80-64 win over Iowa. Its only other win in conference play was over Wisconsin. Like Michigan, Rutgers has played well defensively, ranking 12th in points allowed with 62.7. Yet, on the other end, the Scarlet Knights are 275th in points scored per game.
Unlike the Wolverines, the Scarlet Knights try to get the ball inside. They shoot more 2-point shots than just about any team in college basketball. 3-point shots are also an infrequent part of the offense. Rutgers attempts 3’s at a low rate and also makes them at a low percentage. The Scarlet Knights rank 300th or lower in 3-point makes, 3-point percentage and 3-point attempts.
Corey Sanders is the top scorer. He averages 14.3 points per game and teams with freshman guard Geo Baker (11.7 PPG) to form a solid backcourt. DeShawn Freeman, a 6-7 forward is another threat. The 6-7 forward scores 11.3 points and grabs 7.1 rebounds to lead the team.
As far as Michigan is concerned, this is a game it cannot afford to lose. The Wolverines dropped to six and seven seeds in the NCAA Tournament projections by ESPN and CBS. Another loss would cause them to drop even further. Plus they would be 5-4 in the Big Ten.
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I don’t think it will be easy by any means, but Michigan basketball should be fresher than it was Thursday. Playing at home will help and coming off a loss, you’d expect the Wolverines to be motivated. That’s why I see Michigan winning a fairly competitive game.