3 keys and a prediction for Michigan Basketball vs Illinois

Hunter Dickinson needs a big night

Obviously, Michigan wouldn’t have won the Wisconsin game without the heroics of Hunter Dickinson, but there was a stretch in the first half against the Badgers that was one of his best in a Wolverine uniform and that’s the Dickinson I want to see on Thursday night.

Hunter has dominated the Big Ten since he arrived. There’s no doubt about that and he averages double figures against every single team in the conference, but Illinois.

Dickinson has actually only had two games against the Illini (remember he missed a game due to COVID-19) but in those games, he’s scored just 19 total points and shot just 23 percent from the field.

Kofi Cockburn was a huge part of that. On Thursday, Dain Dainja a 6-foot-9 sophomore will likely guard Dickinson the most, along with Coleman Hawkins. I’d expect some double teams, especially if Dickinson can establish himself early.

The 7-foot-1 big has never been able to do it before against Illinois and my guess is that he’s going to be pretty motivated to finally have a big night against the Illini, who by the way, leads the Big Ten in blocked shots per game with 5.6.