Michigan Basketball: 3 Predictions for Wolverines against Rutgers

Rutgers defense will cause Michigan problems

Rutgers is for real and if you didn’t believe it after Michigan basketball beat them, you could see if just the other night as the Scarlet Knights ran past Illinois at the RAC.

Rutgers is 9-6 in the Big Ten and in the race for a top-4 seed and a double-bye, this is a huge matchup. It would also go a long way towards securing an NCAA berth for the Wolverines, who would have little left to do after sweeping Rutgers.

Yet, it’s going to be easier said than done. Rutgers plays very well defensively at home and just held Illinois under 60. The Scarlet Knights also held Seton Hall to 48 earlier in the year.

Just about every team in the Big Ten is tough to beat on the road this season and Rutgers is right there with everyone else. Against ranked teams at home, the Scarlet Knights are 3-1 and only Michigan State, Nebraska and Northwestern have scored more than 70 against them on their home floor.

But seeing that Michigan is one of just seven teams that rank in the top-25 of the Kenpom rankings in both offense and defense, the Wolverines should still get enough offense to win.