How Michigan can make John Beilein's national championship prediction come true

The Michigan basketball team is just two wins away from doing something it hasn't done in 37 years, which is win a national championship.

Despite winning six consecutive national semifinal games dating back to 1975, the Wolverines have just one championship to show for it, going 1-5 in those title appearances.

The last time was back in 1989, when Glen Rice and company beat Illinois for the national championship.

John Beilein got close. He coached Michigan to the national championship game twice, only to fall short to Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2018.

That 2013 team with Trey Burke felt like a team of destiny, sort of like the current Michigan basketball team. Of course, that team fell just short of winning it all.

Beilein predicts Michigan basketball to win it all, here's how it can happen

On the Huge Show this week, Beilein predicted that Dusty May and this Michigan basketball squad will cut down the nets on Monday night.

Knocking off Arizona won't be easy. The Wildcats, just like Michigan, are viewed as a juggernaut in the eyes of the analytics. Then either Illinois or UConn will be waiting in the wings. Michigan would be favored against either team, but it will be a battle regardless.

While this Michigan team is known for its size, with one of the best frontcourts ever, according to at least one analyst, the X-factor, in terms of winning the national title, is 3-point shooting.

It's been a secret to Michigan's success.

The defense has been great during the NCAA Tournament run. But Michigan is blowing teams out with the way its shooting from deep. The Wolverines shot at least 46 percent in each of the first three games, and followed it up with a 37-percent effort against Tennessee.

In four games, Michigan is shooting 43.5 percent from 3-point range. That has allowed them to become the first team since the 1989 Wolverines to score at least 90 points in each of the four games leading up to the Final Four.

As we broke down earlier, Michigan and Arizona are heavyweights, especially on the interior. Arizona ranks 38th in 3-point percentage, but the Wildcats don't shoot many threes.

Michigan is 113th in 3-pointers attempted per game. It's 31st in 3-point makes, and if the Wolverines can keep shooting the 3-ball the way they have been, as fitting as it is, they will cut down the nets on Monday night just as Beilein predicted.

In their three losses, the Wolverines have shot 32 percent or below from three. In two of those games, they were under 30 percent, so that's something they need to avoid if they are going to achieve their season-long objective of becoming national champions.