GBMWolverine
Fansided

3 keys and a prediction for Michigan Basketball vs Wisconsin

By Chris Peterson

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 14: Head Coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines and Head Coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers talk before the game at Kohl Center on February 14, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 14: Head Coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines and Head Coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers talk before the game at Kohl Center on February 14, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

In a huge game for both teams, Michigan basketball will host Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, and here are three keys and a prediction for the Wolverines. 

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Michigan basketball team. There’s no doubt about that. However, the Wolverines still control their own NCAA tournament destiny.

Sitting at 16-12 overall and 10-7 in the Big Ten, Michigan is right on the NCAA tournament bubble and so are the Wisconsin Badgers. According to Joe Lunardi’s bracketology for ESPN, Wisconsin is in the field while Michigan basketball is the 7th team out.

Yet, the Wolverines have plenty of chances to improve their position. Beating Wisconsin would help, especially since the Badgers beat Michigan basketball a couple of weeks ago in Madison.

Winning this game, splitting next week in road games against Illinois and Indiana, plus a win in the Big Ten tournament should get Michigan to the dance.

First, though, the Wolverines need to win a third straight game, and here are three keys for Michigan basketball as well as a prediciton.

Rebound the basketball

Michigan did a solid job defensively in the first matchup against the Badgers. Wisconsin only scored 64 points in the win and shot 33 percent from the field.

The problem is that the Wolverines allowed 14 offensive rebounds to a Wisconsin team that is one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the country.

It was an outlier performance but the Wolverines can’t allow it to happen again. Terrance Williams is back and secured nine rebounds in the win over Rutgers off the bench. His presence will help and using the two-big lineup with Hunter Dickinson and Tarris Reed should too.

Home/Michigan Basketball