Michigan Basketball: 3 Predictions for Wolverines vs Wisconsin

Michigan will struggle defending Wisconsin’s big men

I’ve been saying for weeks that I think matchup wise, Wisconsin is by far the worst and toughest matchup for Michigan basketball out of any Big Ten team. I think the biggest reason for that is Wisconsin’s big men.

Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter are both stretch big man that can really shoot the lights out of the ball. This season, they are shooting 39.1% and 43.3% from deep respectively. When they are on the court together, not only do they give Wisconsin good size and rebounding, they are able to really create floor spacing and allow Wisconsin’s guards to drive and kick.

This is a nightmare matchup for Michigan’s star true freshman Hunter Dickinson. He has not really had the opportunity this season to guard a stretch five man. In the couple games where Michigan has faced a big that can shoot, Juwan Howard has done a nice job of switching defenses, hedging, and kind of throwing the kitchen sink at the opposing team.

I don’t see this game being any different. Dickinson will be drawn away from the basket where he is much less comfortable and much less of a threat. This will put a lot of pressure on Michigan’s guards to play good defense without a rim protector roaming the paint behind them.

I see this being one of those games where Dickinson may be exposed a bit on the defensive side, but he should still be able to get his own on offense.