Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Iowa

The start will give us a big clue about the finish

With Michigan basketball, it’s been a little difficult to predict how the game will start. In a loss against Wisconsin, UM was sluggish and followed that up with another slow start against Minnesota.

The Wolverines eventually built a 13-point lead in that one but ended winning by just a few points. On the other hand, when Michigan went to Indiana last Friday, it came out scoring at a blistering pace, while also playing championship level defense.

As a result, Michigan scored the first 17 points of the game and despite Indiana eventually getting it to single digits, UM cruised to a wire-to-wire win. Friday night, the opening stretch of the game will be equally important.

Iowa has lost two straight games but has beaten three ranked teams this season, including Ohio State and Nebraska at home, even though neither is ranked now. So the Hawkeyes will need a boost of confidence early and if they can knock down some shots, get some momentum and a lead early, it will be a tough battle that in the end, Michigan may not win.

However, if the Wolverines can put the clamps down defensively and take advantage of Iowa’s defense early, which is giving up a Big-Ten worst 78.4 points in conference play, it could grab an early lead and control of the game. Certainly, anything is possible but when the Wolverines take control early, they tend not to give it up, so the first 5-10 minutes will be telling.