3 keys and a prediction for Michigan basketball against Penn State

Michigan basketball will try bounce back against Penn State on Monday night and here are three keys and a prediction.

Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts to a play against Northwestern during the overtime at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts to a play against Northwestern during the overtime at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Shoot the ball well

That sounds like a super generic key and it is, but Penn State is going to give Michigan basketball open looks. The Nittany Lions, according to UMHoops.com allow the third most catch-and-shoot opportunities in the Big Ten.

38 percent of opponents attempts are coming at the 3-point line. Earlier, in games against USC and UCLA, the Wolverines shot the ball really well from deep.

That has fallen off recently though. Michigan made just 26 percent of its 3-point attempts against Northwestern and shot just 21 percent against Purdue. The first half was especially ugly.

Michigan will get its chances against Penn State which is 15th in the Big Ten in 3-pointers allowed per game during conference play and 12th in 3-point attempts allowed.

Schedule

Schedule