It has been a historic season for the Michigan basketball program. Yet, the Wolverines can make even more history on Friday with a win over Ohio State (12:00 PM EST, BTN).
After the Buckeyes knocked out eighth-seeded Iowa on Thurdsay to earn a trip to the Big Ten quarterfinals, setting up a rematch against third-ranked Michigan, it opened the door for the Wolverines to do something they have never done before: Beat Ohio State three times in one season.
This will be the eighth time that the Wolverines and Buckeyes will play each other for a third time in the same season. Michigan basketball has never went 3-0 when that happened. That can change on Friday as Dusty May seeks his fourth straight win over the Buckeyes to open his Michigan career.
Bruce Thornton went off for 24 points in the win over Iowa on Thursday. He made 10 of 14 shots and made two triples. The dynamic scorer has guaranteed that the Buckeyes will go dancing. But can they upset the Wolverines?
One reason to feel confident that Michigan can make history against Ohio State
In the first two games, Michigan bullied Ohio State, rebounding 44 and 46 percent of its misses. If the Wolverines dominate the offensive glass like that again, it will be hard for Ohio State, which lost the two previous games by an average of 15.
Ohio State limited Michigan to 47 percent on 2-point attempts in the last meeting. Yet, the Wolverines shot 71 percent on 2s in the first meeting. Unless there are a bunch of turnovers, like in the Iowa game, or Michigan goes ice cold as it did against Duke, probably the best defensive team in college basketball, the Wolverines should win. They have too much size and too much talent.
Ohio State doesn't have that kind of defense, an elite one. Yet, in tournaments, anything can happen. But Michigan seems determined to win the Big Ten title, and it starts by beating the Buckeyes.
The fact that Michigan basketball could do something it has never done against its arch rival, would only make a win taste that much sweeter.