Michigan Basketball: How to watch and predictions for Western Michigan

After getting a week to rest, the Michigan basketball team will host Western Michigan Saturday. Here’s how to watch plus our prediction.

After a busy and difficult start to the season in terms of schedule, the Michigan basketball team got a well-deserved break following last week’s win over South Carolina.

That win came last Saturday and since then, Michigan basketball has gotten a break from its schedule as it prepares for the final three games of the non-conference schedule, which starts at the Crisler Center Saturday against Western Michigan. Up next after that are home games against Air Force and Binghamton.

Certainly, Michigan may be a little rusty after not playing for a week but the nation’s third-best scoring defense awaits a 5-4 Western Michigan squad. The Broncos aren’t a bad team, however, in Power-5 matchups against Cincinnati and Mississippi, they lost each game by 26, which doesn’t bode well for them as they get ready to play fifth-ranked Michigan on the road.

Before we look a little farther into the matchup and offer up a prediction, let’s get you some of the basic info such as how to watch and how to stream.

Game Info:

Game 11: Michigan vs Western Michigan

When: 2:00 PM EST

Where: Crisler Arena

TV: Big Ten Network

Streaming: BTN 2 Go or Fubo TV 

Radio: WWJ (950 AM) in Detroit

Breakdown and prediction

When it comes to Western Michigan, there isn’t a ton of things for Michigan basketball to be worried about. The Broncos aren’t particularly stout on offense or defense, however, they do boast a 7-foot-1 presence inside in Seth Dugan, who averages 17.7 points and 10.1 rebounds.

Jon Teske will certainly be used to keep him in check and it’s safe to say Dugan hasn’t faced anyone who can defend the post like Teske, who is averaging 2.2 blocks, 6.8 rebounds and one steal per game.

The Broncos rank 135th in the country in terms of points scored but on defense, Western Michigan ranks even worse, coming in No. 210 after allowing over 72 a game. Josh Davis and Michael Flowers also average in double figures for the Broncos, yet that firepower pales in comparison to what Michigan basketball brings with Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews and Ignas Brazdeikis.

Those guys will lead the way for an offense that has been getting better and better. Brazdeikis, the freshman, is leading the team with over 17 points a game, while Matthews and Poole both average 13. Poole is also connecting on 46-percent of his 3-pointers, which is remarkable considering he started the season 1-of-10 from deep.

The Wolverines offense, along with their scoring defense, which is third in the country should be enough for the Wolverines to roll. Zavier Simpson is a menace guarding the point and along with Teske, he leads a defense that at times is nothing short of dominant.

While Michigan basketball needs to be focused and ready, the prediction here is that the Wolverines win big, with a final score that is something like 80-53.