Michigan Basketball: 3 keys to beating Purdue

Michigan basketball welcomes Purdue into Crisler Arena Saturday for the Big Ten opener and here are three keys to a Wolverines victory.

So far this season, few teams across the country have been as impressive as Michigan basketball. On their way to a 7-0 start, the Wolverines have beaten three teams that made the NCAA tournament a season ago, including defending national champion Villanova and North Carolina.

Those are two blue-blood programs in college hoops. North Carolina and Villanova, who Michigan basketball defeated by an average of 21.5 points, have also won the last three national championships.

In the Kenpom rankings, North Carolina is the seventh-best team, while Villanova ranks 15th. When you talk about not just beating, but dominating two top-15 teams, that’s pretty impressive and at 3:30 PM EST (ESPN), UM will face another top-15 team according to Kenpom in Purdue.

Of course, the last time Michigan and Purdue met, it was for the Big Ten championship. That was a game the Wolverines won 75-66. The previous meeting between the two teams came in Ann Arbor. That time, the Boilermakers came out on top, winning 92-88.

Both teams have changed a lot since then, yet each has key holdovers. Charles Matthews is the biggest star back for Michigan basketball, while the Boilers boast Carsen Edwards, who is averaging 25 points per game so far this season.

Gone, however, is the size Purdue used to have. The Boilers don’t have anyone taller than 6-foot-9, so this team will be different, although it still shoots a lot of 3-pointers.

It’s a critical matchup for both teams who have Big Ten title hopes and with that in mind, here are three keys to a Wolverines win.