Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Penn State

Stevens will score but it won’t easy

Lamar Stevens has been outstanding this season for Penn State, which currently has the third-best scoring offense in Big Ten play. Stevens is scoring 16.6 points per game and shooting 46 percent from the field.

The Nittany Lions are 41st in the country in scoring average and also boast Myreon Jones, who scores more than 14 a game and makes 2.5 triples an outing. Jones and Stevens are the straws that stir the drink and it’s imperative that they are held in check.

Obviously, Stevens is going to get his. He has averaged 19 a game in his career against Michigan basketball but took nearly 18 shots a game to get there. So the key is forcing tough 2-point shots or 3-pointers. He shoots just 21 percent from deep on the road in his career and expect Howard to force him into a bunch of contested mid-range jumpers.

The pick-and-roll defense will be interesting. Michigan has dropped its bigs more often than not but seeing as the Wolverines are 14th in points allowed in Big Ten play, some adjustments could be necessary. Teske’s on-ball defense could also be an asset in this game.

In the end, Stevens will score around 20, but his field-goal percentage will be low enough that Michigan can live with it.