Michigan Basketball: 3 Bold predictions for Wolverines vs Rutgers

It’s been a few days since Michigan basketball‘s incredible come-from-behind win at Wisconsin, but now the Wolverines need to show they can stack success after this pause with Rutgers up next.

The Scarlet Knights are playing really well right now and have won five of their last six games. Michigan basketball is ranked No. 3 in the Kenpom rankings coming into this matchup as No. 26 and most impressively, the No. 12 team in defensive adjusted efficiency.

Rutgers is also battle-tested and according to Kenpom, has played an even tougher schedule than the Wolverines at this point. Still, Rutgers is 8-7 in the Big Ten and in a prime position to make the NCAA tournament, a cause that would be helped even more with a win in Ann Arbor Thursday.

However, the Scarlet Knights have struggled against the Wolverines. Michigan swept the series last year, winning in New York at the Garden and on Rutgers’ home floor.

Rutgers is an aggressive team that doesn’t play very quickly and doesn’t shoot a ton of 3-pointers. In Big Ten play, the Scarlet Knights attempt more 2-point shots than any other team, which actually plays into exactly what the Wolverines want to do defensively, which is where we start with our three bold predictions — on defense.