Next up for the Michigan basketball team is the Alabama Crimson Tide, who shot the lights out against Texas Tech, making 11 first-half 3-pointers on their way to the Sweet 16.
Fourth-seeded Alabama wasn't expected by many to reach the Sweet 16 after losing one of their best players, Aden Holloway, due to an arrest early last week. He didn't travel with the team for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
However, the Tide rolled over Texas Tech on Sunday. Nate Oats' team buried 19 3-pointers. Alabama scored 90 points in both of its NCAA Tournament wins and had two players make at least five treys in the win over Texas Tech.
That's not surprising. Alabama was second in college basketball in 3-point makes this season with 12.6 per game. They connected on 31 during the first two games of the big dance.
That's the sort of team that should worry Michigan basketball fans. If the Crimson Tide finds a way to make a ton of threes on Friday night in Chicago, it could spell trouble, especially because the Wolverines allowed 24 3-pointers in two games last week.
Odds expect Michigan to beat Alabama by double digits
Dusty May will need to shore that up this week; however, the oddsmakers still like the Wolverines to win this matchup. Michigan basketball has opened as a 10.5-point favorite for its contest on Friday. The over/under is set for 176.5.
Michigan scored at least 95 points in its first two games, and there are plenty of things to like about this matchup from a Wolverines' perspective. Alabama ranks outside the top 300 in terms of offensive rebounds allowed and turnovers forced.
Alabama's 2-point defense will also be tested. The Tide ranked in the top 60 during the season (48.3 percent allowed), but hasn't faced many teams as proficient at 2-point offense as Michigan. The Wolverines also shot better than 46 percent from 3-point range in both of their wins.
If that keeps up, there isn't a team in this tournament that will beat the Wolverines. We'll see if they can keep it up against Alabama, but if you believe the oddsmakers, it will be a relative cake walk.