After a dominant performance over Oakland last week, the same Oakland team that gave No. 1 Purdue a run for its money just days later, Michigan basketball fans have to be feeling pretty good about the 2025-26 Wolverines.
Yet, one game is one game. Michigan basketball shot the lights out against Oakland. Michigan set the program record with 69 points in the first half on their way to 121 total.
Michigan knocked down 19 3-pointers against the Oakland zone. Five-star freshman Trey McKenney made 6-of-8 treys in his Michigan basketball debut.
All of the newcomers were impressive, even Yaxel Lendeborg, despite the fact that he was limited with a hand injury. On Monday, Michigan head coach Dusty May confirmed that Yaxel is 100 percent, so I would expect to see him in the stating lineup.
Wake Forest is ranked 66th in the Kenpom rankings. So this is the first test for Michigan basketball. The two teams will meet at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and here are three keys and a prediction for Michigan vs. Wake Forest.
Keep the turnovers under control
Michigan struggled with turnovers in the exhibition season. The Wolverines only had eight against Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies play mostly zone defense, though. You wouldn't expect them to force a ton of turnovers.
Wake Forest is a little different. The Demon Deacons forced over 13 turnover per game last season, ranking 65th in college basketball. Wake has only played two games against subpar competition so far this season but is forcing 18.5 turnovers per game.
The Demon Deacons will be very familar with point guard Elliot Cadeau from his time at North Carolina. Yet, the 6-foot-1 point guard has just six turnovers in three games against Wake Forest, which bodes well for Michgan on Tuesday night.
We saw how turnovers impacted the 2024-25 team throughout the season. The ball handling does seem improved after the first game, but tonight will be the first test. Passing it is one of the keys to victory.
Michigan needs to use its height advantage
Wake Forest has to be one of the shortest teams in high-major college basketball. The Deacons don't have anyone taller than 6-foot-9. Wake Foret starts one player, Omaha Billiew who is 6-foot-8. There other forward who starts is 6-foot-7.
That means Michigan should be able to take advantage on offense. Defense might be a concern, however, there could be more of Morez Johnson playing center. Aday Mara is a defensive weapon, too, although U-M will probably need to play some drop coverage.
Wake does have length at certain spots. Its two leading scorers are 6-foot-7. However, it could be difficult to match-up against Michigan, which has as much size and length as any team in college basketball.
Offensively, Michigan should dominant the paint and 2-point scoring. That should be true on both ends of the floor, along with offensive rebounds. Dusty May built a team to dominate down low. We'll see if it can against Wake Forest.
Solid 3-point shooting
Michigan doesn't need to make 19 3-pointers. But if there was one perceived weakness about this team it was turnovers and maybe a lack of 3-point shooting.
That wasn't a problem against Oakland. Wake Forest has allowed its opponents to shoot just 24.6 percent through two games from beyond the arc, with the caveat that competition matters. Yet, the Demon Deacons limited opponents to 30.7 percent last season, ranking 29th. They were also in the top 150 in 3-point defense in 2023-24.
Guarding Juke Harris is another key. He's scoring 23 points per game. Harris and Mekhi Mason are each making two 3-point field goals per game. As a team, though, Wake Forest ranks 278th in 3-point shooting percentage. They also rank outside the top 200 in field-goal percentage and 2-point field-goal percentage.
Wake hasn't been a good offensive team. It will face one of the most skilled teams in the country. As long as the Wolverines avoid turnovers, and a poor shooting night, they should win.
Their defense needs to be better, too.
Michigan vs. Wake Forest score prediction
The Wolverines are a 15.5-point favorite. Michigan is the more talented team with significant advantages that should be difficult for Wake Forest to overcome.
U-M maybe won't score 100 points, but the Wolverines will win, and cover the spread, 96-77.