The last time Michigan basketball played UConn, it was for the national championship. Dusty May was also the head coach.
A lot has changed since that matchup. The important thing, though, is that the Wolverines won that game, to win their first national title in 27 years.
It was a war, though, and tonight's game should be a solid early-season test for new Michigan basketball head coach Mike Boyton. The defending national champions are ranked 30th in the KenPom rankings. UConn is 9th.
Moustapha Thiam, who didn't play against Oakland on Monday, is expected to play for the Wolverines in Boston on Friday. The Huskies are ranked fourth and bring back Braylen Mullins, who probably would have been a lottery pick if he elected to leave for the NBA draft.
The offense is going to be similar. UConn loves to run screens, cuts, and complicated actions. Boynton, the defensive coordinator last season, will certainly employ the same switches on screens that caused the Huskies fits in the title game, although we will see how it works with different players in the frontcourt.
Looking ahead to a top-25 matchup, here's a look at the odds, how to watch, and our prediction for Michigan vs. UConn.
How to watch Michigan vs. UConn in men's basketball
- Date: Friday, November 6
- Time: 08:00 p.m. EST
- Venue: TD Garden Center
- How to watch (TV): TNT/HBO MAX
- Streaming: fuboTV
- Radio: Learfield Michigan Sports Network
- Michigan record: 1-0
- UConn record: 1-0
Michigan vs. UConn odds for men's basketball game
The Huskies are a 7.5-point favorite. The over/under is 141.5. The moneyline is +255 for Michigan basketball and -320 for UConn.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Keys and prediction for Michigan vs. UConn
A big key in this game is going to be 2-point defense, just like in the championship game. Having Thiam in the lineup will be huge. The 7-foot-2 center led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman. He also averaged 1.6 blocks per game for Cincinnati last season. UConn made 71 percent of its 2-point shots in its opener against Gardner-Webb. Michigan needs to get that number near 50.
UConn will try to get its shooters open with all of the complicated actions. The Wolverines did a great job defending those last season, but don't have Yaxel Lendeborg to switch onto point guards. J.P. Estrella was impressive in his Michigan basketball debut, but he will need to avoid foul trouble.
Trey McKenney will need to lead the way offensively. He made a critical 3-pointer and also a mid-range shot agianst UConn, which suffocated the Wolverines on offense in the title game. Elliot Cadeau will have a key role to play, too, as a scorer and playmaker.
The X-facfor for Michigan is 3-point shooting. The Wolverines shot just 21 percent against Oakland. There were a bunch of open looks. They just didn't go down. Offensive rebounding is another. Michigan allowed Oakland to grab 21 offensive boards. That can't happen against UConn.
If Michigan is going to pull off the upset, that 3-point percentage will need to be in the mid-30s, although I'm expecting a defensive battle similar to the title game or last year's Duke game.
Prediction: UConn 70, Michigan 65.
Add us as a preferred source on Google