Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Northwestern
The Northwestern defense has caused problems before
Last season, in two games against Northwestern, Michigan basketball scored 52 points and 58 points. The Wolverines did win the game at home against the Wildcats 58-47, however, lost on the road 61-52.
That loss really helped wake up this Michigan team a season ago, but after surging into the top 5, it would be a major letdown to lose again the Wildcats, who do have wins over Utah and most recently over Georgia Tech in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Take a look at these numbers that earned Jordan Poole Big Ten Player of the Week:
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) December 3, 2018
19.5 points
76.9% from 3-point range (10-for-13)
63.6% from the field
18 points vs. No .11 UNC
21 points vs. No. 19 Purdue
5.0 rebounds
2.5 steals #GoBlue 〽️🏀 pic.twitter.com/qCjpzFA9yi
Michigan has been playing better on the offensive end of the floor, especially Jordan Poole who earned Big Ten Player of the Week for his work against Purdue and North Carolina. In his last three halves of basketball, Poole is 9-of-10 from 3-point range. That was after starting the season 1-for-10.
Poole is averaging over 11 points and shooting 48 percent from deep. Ignas Brazdeikis (16 PPG) and Charles Matthews (14 PPG) have also been stellar, yet, Michigan still ranks outside the top 200 in points per game. The Wolverines will score 60 in this one, but not much more and ultimately, if they win, it will be because of defense.