Michigan basketball and Auburn will meet on Tuesday night in Las Vegas in the second game for both teams in the Players Festival.
The game is a Sweet 16 rematch from last season, but the Tigers have just one player back who played significant minutes against the Wolverines. Michigan has a few: Nimari Burnett, Will Tscetter, Roddy Gayle, and L.J. Cason, but only one starter is back from the Auburn game last year, Burnett.
Bruce Pearl will also be joining the announcers instead of coaching. His son is now the head coach for Auburn, which is 5-1 and ranked 19th according to the Kenpom rankings. The Tigers only loss this season was a one-point defeat by fifth-ranked Houston.
Auburn is a big team. The Tigers are physical. They are 6-foot-8 or taller in the frontcourt, which is why Dusty May has been using his three-big lineup. It's for matchups like this, against a team that knocked Michigan out of the NCAA tournament.
Auburn excels in 2-point offense, rebounding, and forcing turnovers. It will be a great test, and a win should send Michigan to the championship game. Here are three keys and a prediction. Tip-off time is set for 8:30 PM EST on TNT.
Win the 2-point battle
This was a key against San Diego State, but it will be even more important and more difficult against Auburn. The Tigers have a big and talented frontcourt. The guards are also skilled. 6-foot-7 Keyshawn Hall is averaging 22 points per game. Tahaad Pettiford is the point guard now. Michigan basketball fans will remember him.
The guards needs to do a good job of keep Auburn out of the paint. Keshawn Murphy is also a major threat in the low post. He's shooting 80 percent on 2-point attempts this season. As a team, Auburn shoots 61.3 percent (31st). They also ranked 95th in 2-point percentage defense (47 percent).
However, the Wolverines are shooting 62.9 percent on twos (19th) and have the fourth-best field-goal percentage defense in college basketball (36.5). Will that hold up against Auburn?
If it does, that will bode well for the Wolverines.
Keep Auburn off the offensive glass
Michigan couldn't do this in the NCAA tournament. It's one of the reasons the Tigers were able to advance. Auburn crashes the offensive glass hard, ranking 17th in college basketball with 15.5 offensive rebounds per game.
Michigan averages 12.2 offensive boards (145th). However, Michigan basketball is second-best defensive rebounding team in the country with 34 per game.
Winning the rebounding battle is always important, but containing the Tigers on the offensive glass is a critical component of winning this game for the Wolverines.
Don't give the game away
Michigan turned the ball over 12 times against San Diego State, although some of those happened late, when the game wasn't in doubt and the starters weren't in.
Auburn is great at taking care of the ball, averaging just 8.8 turnovers per game. However, the Tigers force 14.5 turnovers per game which is among the top 101 in college basketball. Michigan needs to avoid a bunch of turnovers.
The Wolverines also need to shoot the ball decent from deep. As long Michigan takes care of the ball and shoots around 30 percent from 3-point range, it should find a way.
Michigan vs. Auburn prediction
Michigan's defense will carry the day. The Wolverines turned offense into defense on Monday night. It won't be easy to do that against Auburn, but the size of Michigan, and its ability to score inside will prove to the be difference in a physical game.
Michigan 75, Auburn 70.