Michigan Basketball: 3 Predictions for Wolverines against Purdue

Nick Wass/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Wass/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Wagner and Livers do it again

At the start of the season, Hunter Dickinson stole the show a little bit and truth be told, Franz Wagner got out of the gates a little slow. But now, he’s humming and expect another big game Friday night.

Over the last seven games, Wagner has been highly productive, scoring 14.7 points per game and making 37 percent of his 3-point attempts. Beyond that, his impact has been felt on both ends of the floor.

Wagner has had two games with at least 10 rebounds and the 6-foot-9 wing is averaging 7.4 during this stretch as well as 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks. He’s the total package and as good as Purdue is defensively, I don’t think they are going to slow him down.

Dickinson may shoot 72 percent on 2-pointers but Wagner isn’t far behind at 62 percent. However, Wagner obviously can’t do it alone and that’s where Livers and others will come in.

Livers has been spectacular from deep this season, shooting 43 percent. Yet, Chaundee Brown (39 percent), Eli Brooks (37 percent) and Mike Smith (45 percent), who actually leads the team in 3-point percentage, but doesn’t shoot at the volume Livers does, have also been deadly.

This game will be an opportunity for all of those guys. Purdue wants to give up those shots more than it wants to allow Dickinson to take a bunch inside and I have a feeling Michigan won’t go 6-for-25 from deep as it did a year ago at Mackey Arena.

Even with that poor effort, Michigan was able to win thanks to 22 points from Wagner and tonight, I have a feeling he gets to 20 again.