Michigan Basketball: 3 keys for the Wolverines to beat LSU

By Adam Childs | Mar 21, 2021

Mar 20, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Austin Davis (51) reacts as he celebrates with teammates after defeating the Texas Southern Tigers in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Bickel-USA TODAY Sports /

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2. Slow Thomas

Cameron Thomas is LSU’s go-to scorer. He is averaging almost 23 points per game and put up 27 in their first-round win against the Bonnies. He has been a scoring machine for LSU and the guy that Michigan basketball needs to slow down.

At 6-foot-4 he isn’t a huge guy, but someone who can find a way to score. He does shoot a lot as those 27 points came on 18 shots. He also can get to the line as he had 13 free throw attempts in the first round.

Eli Brooks will probably be the one that guards him and he is one of Michigan’s best defenders. He needs to force him into bad shots and keep him from getting to the line. If the Wolverines can keep him from getting wide-open opportunities, they can force him into misses.

Juwan Howard doesn’t double on guys so it will be up to Brooks and probably Chaundee Brown to slow him down. Michigan’s defense has been good for most of the year and has slowed down some of the best players they have faced, and this is another big challenge.

If the Wolverines can slow Thomas down, they will have a great shot to win the game.

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