Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions against Iowa in Big Ten Tourney

Teske shows up big and so does defense

One way or another the Michigan defense is going to play a huge role in this game. In each of the Wolverines last three losses, the teams all scored 70 points or more. Iowa also scored 74 in its 15-point win over the Wolverines in Iowa City.

In fact, only one team, South Carolina, has scored more than 70 points and lost to Michigan. So that’s going to be a key barometer. If Iowa has a big night offensively and gets past that 70-point mark, that won’t be a good sign for Michigan basketball.

But Iowa won’t get to 70 points if Jon Teske has something to say about it. With the 6-foot-9 Clark and the 6-foot-11 Luka Garza, Teske is going to need to play well inside. In the first meeting, he was in foul trouble and Garza went off with 19 points and eight rebounds.

That can’t happen this time around. Iowa also can’t shoot 42 (6-of-14) percent from three like it did the first time around, but that can all be helped by Teske defending the bucket inside without help from double teams.

If he and Ignas Brazdeikis can handle the Iowa bigs down low, that should help limit open looks for guys like Baer and Jordan Bohannon. Keeping Teske on the floor will also help Michigan in the rebounding battle and the big man seems due for a breakout night.