Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Northwestern

Michigan will shut down the Wildcats

Northwestern doesn’t have an explosive offense and in fact, the only stats where the Wildcats rank in the top 100 offensively are at the free throw line. Northwestern also goes a good job of taking care of the ball.

However, while the Wildcats don’t have a bunch of dynamic players, they do have some talent and they also are very experienced. Vic Law and Derek Pardon are the two names you really need to know. Law is averaging 17.6 PPG and shoots 40 percent from three. He averages 2.4 makes per game from beyond the arc.

Pardon averages 13.8 points and 9.6 rebounds, while Ryan Taylor and A.J. Turner both score in double figures. Three of those guys are seniors and one is a junior. So they will know what to expect. Michigan isn’t going to fool them, it just needs to beat them with hard-nosed defense.

Jon Teske’s shot-blocking inside will make it tough and with the way Matthews, Zavier Simpson, Poole and Iggy defend the ball, nothing is going to come easy for the Wildcats.