Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Northwestern
Michigan basketball will play its second early-season Big Ten game tonight at Northwestern and here are three predictions for the Wolverines.
The Michigan basketball team has a quick turnaround after beating Purdue Saturday at Crisler Arena and Tuesday night, the Wolverines will travel to Northwestern, a place that has caused them fits the past two seasons.
There are not many teams in the Big Ten that can say they have beaten Michigan basketball two straight times at home, but right now, Northwestern is one of them. The Wildcats beat Michigan on a buzzer-beater two years ago and then beat them again last season 61-52.
"Every team in the Big Ten is tough, especially when you go on the road. You have to be ready and you have to give it your all."#GoBlue 〽️🏀 pic.twitter.com/iksZxp3VMZ
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) December 4, 2018
The Wolverines have actually lost two of three games to the Wildcats, so there is no reason Michigan basketball should be sleeping on this matchup. Not only is Northwestern a solid team, but any game on the road in the Big Ten is far from a cakewalk.
Northwestern is also a much better team than people give it credit for. Kenpom has the Wildcats ranked as the No. 46 team with the 29th best defense. Of course, Michigan is the fifth-ranked team according to Kenpom. UM also leads the country in defensive efficiency and is 19th in the same metric on the offensive end. Northwestern ranks 91st on offense.
Yet, after two huge wins over ranked teams, this feels like a trap game. Northwestern head coach Chris Collins is one of the better coaches in the league and he will have his team ready to go. Can the Wildcats push the Wolverines? Find out here as we make three predictions.