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3 keys and a prediction for Michigan basketball vs. Wake Forest

Michigan basketball will play its first high-major team of the season as the Wolverines square off against Wake Forest. Here are three keys and a prediction.

By Chris Peterson

Michigan head coach Dusty May watches warm up before the season opener against Cleveland State during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.
Michigan head coach Dusty May watches warm up before the season opener against Cleveland State during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Get Vlad Goldin going inside

The Demon Deacons are ranked 61st overall according to the Kenpom rankings but they also have an adjusted defensive rating of 39th. They are also 24th in college basketball allowing just .74 points per possession.

Yet, that was against North Carolina State and Coppin State. The Demon Deacons also averaged under a point-per-possession on offense. Michigan averaged 1.4 against Cleveland State. That kind of efficiency isn't expected on a consistent basis.

But it will be interesting to see how the Wolverines handle a strong defensive team, especially one that is good at defending the rim.

Vlad Goldin only scored two points in the season opener. That's a one-off. At least Michigan basketball has to hope so because they'll need their 7-foot center to be more productive on Sunday. Goldin excelled against high-major opponents at FAU and he'll need more than two points for Michigan to win on Sunday.

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