Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for the Wolverines against Louisville

Wolverines trio stands out again

Michigan basketball made the biggest climb into the AP Poll of any team in 70 years Monday and it was because they were so underestimated in the preseason.

It was easy to see why when Beilein left, along with Jordan Poole, Ignas Brazdeikis and Charles Matthews for the NBA. The top three scorers and the head coach. That’s not a good recipe.

Yet, the Wolverines, while young, have some veteran talent back and that is what has carried the team thus far. Isaiah Livers had taken a huge leap and is averaging 17.3 points per game along with three, made 3-pointers.

His shooting has been impressive to watch but it hasn’t really been surprising. He shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc a year ago and now is just doing it at a greater volume. Jon Teske is also averaging 13.3 ppg and 9.7 rebounds, while Zavier Simpson is also doing his part 12.3 ppg and 9.7 assists.

Not to be forgotten, Eli Brooks is also scoring 12 points per game, which gives Michigan basketball four guys in double-figures, just like Louisville, which has Jordan Nwora, Dwayne Sutton, Ryan McMahon and Steven Enoch all scoring more than 10.

Michigan certainly has others that can and will contribute such as David DeJulius, Franz Wagner, Colin Castleton and Brandon Johns, but the key tonight is the four starters with experience playing the way they did in the Bahamas.

Of course, it will be hard to play that well, especially on the road, against the No. 1 team in the Kenpom rankings, but this group will. Simpson and crew don’t shy away from the big moments and they won’t tonight.