Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Penn State

Michigan basketball will host Penn State Wednesday night in a must-win game for the Wolverines. Here are three predictions.

There is a long way to go in the Big Ten, but it’s not too hard to argue that the Michigan basketball team is in a must-win situation Wednesday night against Penn State.

Penn State comes in with a 13-5 record overall and a 3-4 mark in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are fresh off a win over Ohio State at home last Saturday. Prior to that though, Penn State had lost three games in a row and on the road in Big Ten play, they are 0-3.

On the other side, Michigan basketball has also been struggling. Since the restart of Big Ten play, the Wolverines have lost three of four games, although, to be fair, those losses all came on the road to Minnesota, Michigan State and Iowa.

Michigan was able to beat a quality Purdue team at home, even without star player Isaiah Livers and it sounds like the Wolverines will have to repeat that feat Wednesday because unless head coach Juwan Howard is pulling a fast one, he doesn’t seem like he’s ready yet.

The good news is that Michigan finally gets a break from dominant big guys. Penn State does have Lamar Stevens, who is very solid forward, but he’s not the kind of big that has given U-M fits.

All in all, it’s a must-win game and a favorable matchup. Will that lead to a bounceback win? Here are the predictions.