The top-ranked, according to the Coaches Poll, Michigan basketball team will be back in action on Sunday against the La Salle Explorers of the A-10 (4 PM EST on Peacock).
The Explorers are on their third head coach in recent seasons and have started 4-8. It doesn't take a long look at their roster to realize there is no hope for them in this game. Michigan basketball, with it's massive frontcourt, should easily bully the Explorers into a victory.
This is one of two buy games left for Michigan basketball on the schedule before Big Ten play starts back up again on Friday, January 2, against USC.
Between now and then, Michigan just needs to stay sharp and avoid injuries. The Wolverines have been dominating opponents. They have won their last seven games by at least 18 points. Maryland had a nine-point lead in the second half, before Michigan outscored the Terps by 27 to end the game, nearly covering the spread.
La Salle can't protect the rim. Their defense shouldn't offer much resistance to the Wolverines unless Michigan just isn't focused. The Explorers' 2-point defense is ranked 131st, allowing 48.8 percent of 2-point shots, but they haven't played a team like Michigan. They are 288th in 3-pointers allowed and 351st in 3-point percentage allowed.
Yaxel Lendeborg, the Wolverines' National Player of the Year Candidate, leads the Big Ten in 2-point percentage (82.5) and effective field-goal percentage (70.8). He's been everything that he was advertised to be, and more. Morez Johnson, too. He leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage, but has been dominant on both ends of the floor.
Six different Michigan players are making at least one 3-pointer per game. Yaxel is making two per game and shooting 40.8 percent. Freshman Trey McKenny has also averaged two 3-point field goals per game and shot them at a 38.5 percent clip.
The biggest revelation has been Elliot Cadeau. He's making 1.7 triples per game but shooting 41.5 percent, second on the team behind Nimari Burnett at 42.9. The North Carolina transfer is also dishing out 6.1 assists, and has reduced his turnovers from 3.1 last season to 2.4.
Everything is clicking. Can Michigan pull out a 40-point win to cover the 39.5-point spread against La Salle? As long as the Wolverines are focused and firing on all cylinders, it's hard to see why not.
Prediction: Michigan 105, La Salle 61.