Michigan Basketball: 5 keys to a deep run in Big Ten tournament

3-pointers have to drop

If you want to look at a common denominator in the Wolverines last three losses, it was poor shooting from beyond the arc. Against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Maryland, Michigan basketball shot 30 percent or below from 3-point range and didn’t make more than seven against either team.

That’s just not how the Wolverines are built to win big games right now. It’s possible that Isaiah Todd and Joshua Christopher join Michigan next season and then, it will have guys that can consistently get to the bucket.

But right now, Michigan basketball doesn’t have that. It does have two talented scorers in Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers, but much of what they do is shoot the ball. Wagner has developed more of an all-around game lately, but even so, all hands need to be on deck this week.

And that means others such as Brandon Johns, Eli Brooks, Jon Teske and David DeJulius need to step up. When Michigan makes around 10 3-pointers, it’s a pretty tough team to beat and as long as the Wolverines are hitting 3-pointers, they will be an extremely tough out in this tournament and the next one.