Michigan Basketball: 3 keys to beating Purdue

Keep Edwards and Purdue in Check

Michigan basketball is winning games for a lot of reasons, however, the biggest, without question, is the defense.

Through seven games, Michigan has the best defense in the country and it really doesn’t matter how you measure it. The Wolverines give up the fewest points (51 PPG) in the country but also have the highest defensive efficiency rating according to Kenpom.

On the other side though, Purdue is sixth in offensive efficiency thanks in large part to Edwards, who might be the most dynamic offensive threat in the Big Ten. He makes four 3-pointers a game and attempts more than 10.

Zavier Simpson will likely get the assignment here and his task will likely be pressuring him off the 3-point line and forcing him to try to make shots over Jon Teske and others inside. It’s a big ask, yet, Simpson is one of the best on-ball defenders in the country and if he can simply contain Edwards and hold him to 15-20 points, Michigan should have a good shot at winning.