3 keys and a prediction for Michigan basketball vs. No. 22 Xavier

With the win over Virginia Tech, Michigan basketball played its way into the Fort Myers Tip-Off championship game which will be Wednesday night against Xavier.

The Musketeers come into the game 6-0. They have beaten Wake Forest, the only team Michigan basketball has lost to, as well as South Carolina. The other wins were buy games. Michigan basketball has victories over TCU and Virginia Tech, plus buy game wins.

At first glance, there are similarities between the two teams starting with the fact that both drastically turned over their rosters last season. Sean Miller is still the head coach at Xavier but after a 16-18 season, the Musketeers reloaded by adding Ryan Conwell from Indiana State who is averaging 17.5 points per game. He's an elite 3-point shooter at 47 percent and makes 3.7 per game.

Conwell will be a key matchup for the Wolverines. He's made two triples in every game this season. He went 2-for-8 against South Carolina, but like Michigan, which shot 29 percent from 3-point range, the gym took some adjusting too.

I'd expect both teams to shoot better on Wednesday night. Zach Freemantle is another name to know. The 6-foot-9 center will be an interesting matchup for Michigan with Vlad Goldin. He shoots 55 percent on 2-point attempts but is a 41 percent shooter from 3-point range and loves to shoot as the trailer in transition where the Musketeers are dangerous, just like the Wolverines.

Xavier is ranked in the AP poll but is actually 38th in the Kenpom rankings compared to 32nd for Michigan basketball. It should be a fun matchup and a chance for the Wolverines to add a signature win to their resume.

Here are three keys and a prediction.

Be effective in transition

Both teams want to get out in transition and stop the other team from doing it. Xavier has been dangerous in transition but not as much against high-major opponents.

Michigan also wants to get out in transition and attack. The Wolverines struggled in the early parts of the Virginia Tech game but finally got some things going and their biggest issue was missing good looks outside of turnovers.

Freemantle and Conwell are really good shooters in transition and they aren't alone so transition defense will be important. Taking advantage of transition scoring opportunites will be key as well, especially against the No. 13 adjusted defense in college basketball according to Kenpom.