Michigan Women’s Basketball: Keys, prediction and how to watch Sweet 16 vs South Dakota

The Michigan women’s basketball team can make history on Saturday with a win over South Dakota in the Sweet 16.

Even though the Michigan men’s basketball team lost in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night, not all is lost for Michigan basketball fans as the women’s team is alive and well in the Sweet 16.

This is the second consecutive year that the Michigan women’s basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16 and Saturday, in Witchita, Kansas, the Wolverines will look to make more history and reach the Elite 8 for the first time ever.

They were oh so close to reaching that goal a year ago, losing to Baylor in overtime. Heading into the 2022 NCAA women’s tournament, it looked like Michigan women’s basketball and Baylor could meet again as the Bears were the No. 2 seed in the region.

However, South Dakota had different plans and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the first weekend of the tournament by ousting Baylor. Michigan survived a scare from Villanova in the second round and here’s a look at some keys, a prediction, and how to watch Michigan women’s basketball in the Sweet 16.

Keys for Michigan women’s basketball against South Dakota

Naz has to win down low 

If you are a Michigan fan and you haven’t seen Naz Hillmon play, shame on you. She’s spectacular and is the only Michigan basketball player (man or woman) to score more than 2,000 total points and grab more than 1,000 rebounds.

She scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the win over Villanova on Monday and she will be vital to the Wolverines’ efforts again. In the first two rounds, she scored 51 points on 23-of-30 attempts from the field.

Yet, in Hannah Sjerven, Hillmon will face a fellow 6-foot-2 center and one that’s a very good rim protector with nearly two blocks per game. She also averages over 15 points and make 51 percent of her shots too.

So on both ends of the floor, Hillmon needs to win in the post. That’s not a new key but against a stout defender such as Sjerven, Naz will need to be up to the challenge if the Michigan women are to advance.

Crack the defensive code 

South Dakota is a really good defensive team. The Coyotes hold teams to 53 points per game on 36 percent shooting from the field. Baylor shot just 39 percent and finished 19 percent from 3-point range where more than half of the shot attempts were from.

Michigan women’s basketball doesn’t want to play that way. Leigha Brown and Maddie Nolan can knock down 3-point shots. But the Wolverines want to attack the bucket and get to the free throw line.

It’s easier said than done but they will need to figure out how to be productive against a stingy South Dakota defense and a big part of that is taking care of the ball. Baylor turned it over 19 times and committed 22 fouls — not a recipe for success.

Limit the 3-ball

South Dakota knocked down eight 3-pointers in the win over Baylor and had a nine-point edge in that department, despite shooting 10 fewer shots.

The Coyotes shot 33 percent from deep as a team and hold their opponents to 28 percent, so that number isn’t surprising but that shooting from deep is one way South Dakota can close the gap on Michigan. The Wolverines shoot 31 percent from three and allow opposing teams to shoot just above 30 percent, which makes it another key battle to watch.

And if the Michigan women’s basketball team can essentially make the 3-pointers a push, it should have a very good chance of winning the game.

Michigan women’s basketball vs South Dakota Sweeet 16 prediction

This is a good draw for U-M but no team reaches this round of the NCAA tournament by accident. That being said, Naz Hillmon is very good at making history at Michigan and it’s only fitting that she would lead the women’s team to its first Elite 8. Wolverines win 67-60.

What channel is the Michigan women’s basketball game on?

Michigan basketball will play South Dakota on ESPN2 at  06:30 PM EST/03:30 PM PST.

Michigan women’s basketball vs South Dakota Live Stream

Today’s Michigan basketball game can be live-streamed on Fubo TV.