Michigan Basketball: 3 Predictions for Wolverines against Florida State

Michigan basketball battles Florida State Sunday for a berth in the Elite 8 and here are three predictions for the Wolverines and Seminoles. 

It was a grind but Michigan basketball made it back to the Sweet 16. That was the result of winning one four-team tournament, now the journey starts to win another.

Waiting for Michigan basketball in the Sweet 16 is the Florida State Seminoles, who according to Kenpom, have the biggest team in college basketball.

Florida State has a pair of 7-footers and a number of players who stand at least 6-foot-8 or taller. Michigan is big too, it’s just going to be interesting to see how each team handles the size of the other.

Against Ilinois, Michigan didn’t handle it well, especially Hunter Dickinson inside. If Florida State can guard him one-on-one that is always going to be ideal. Illinois did it with Kofi Cockburn and while Balsa Koprivica isn’t Cockburn, he’s a very good shot blocker and a solid defender.

Figuring out how to defend Scottie Barnes will be an issue for Michigan, but defending Dickinson is the biggest question for Florida State.

Do you try to force Dickinson to score one-on-one? Do you double-down and surrender more open 3-point looks?

Outside of that, the game will likely be decided at the 3-point line. Both teams shoot well from deep and are average at defending the 3-point line, at least in terms of percentage. Michigan doesn’t allow many and forces teams into tough 2-pointers.

Florida State actually ranks 279th in 3-point attempts allowed, which probably has something to do with their length. The Noles are also a good 3-point shooting team, especially in transition.

Those are all keys to the game, but here we go with final predictions.