Michigan is through to the first round of the NCAA Tournament after winning their play-in against Tulsa 67-62 on Wednesday night. The Wolverines won’t get plenty of rest though, which could be an important factor against a run-and-gun team like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
It’s going to be one hell of a matchup between two good offenses. Read on as we take a look at this intriguing matchup. There’s plenty more interesting matchups in the NCAA Tournament. Check out our complete previews for California vs. Hawaii and Indiana v. Chattanooga.
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March Madness No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Michigan Preview
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
When: Friday, March 18, 9:40 PM ET
Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Michigan Wolverines – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are back dancing. The Irish don’t appear as good as they were last year, when they came oh-so-close to upsetting then-unbeaten Kentucky in the Elite Eight. But they retain two of their core players in Zach Auguste and Demetrius Jackson.
Big man play is important for the Irish to slow down Michigan’s run-and-gun style. But having Jackson directing the offense can help Notre Dame give the Wolverines a taste of their own medicine. Jackson is solid on the floor with 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Jackson can drive to the basket and light up the scoreboard. But setting up three-point specialist V.J. Beachem may be important. Beachem will be the Irish’s response to Michigan’s three-point shooting. He’s shooting 43.2 percent from beyond the arc this season.
The Irish are 5-3 SU/ATS in their last eight games as favorites.
Betting on the Michigan Wolverines
Zak Irvin hit a go-ahead three and sank two from the charity stripe in the final minute, and the Michigan Wolverines are through to the Round of 64 in the Big Dance. Irvin was the Wolverines’ most effective scorer in the First Four game against Tulsa. He scored a team-high 16 points on 6 of 12 shooting (2 of 5 from deep).
It wasn’t all Irvin, though. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman tied him with 16 points, and made the most of his opportunities from the charity stripe. Abdur-Rahkman made 6 of 8 free throws for Michigan. Duncan Robinson also had a solid game, finishing with a double double (13 points and 11 rebounds).
The Wolverines are a jump-shooting team with a penchant for making three-pointers. Having already played in the First Four should help get them in rhythm in time for the Round of 64 game against Notre Dame. The Wolverines are 30th in the NCAA in three-point percentage, making 38.4 percent of their long-range shots.
Don’t expect Derrick Walton Jr. to remain cold from downtown. He made just 2 of 7 from three against Tulsa. But on the season, he’s making 39.3 percent of his three-point attempts. Expect him to be able to rediscover his stroke after starting out cold in the First Four.
The Wolverines are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games.
Writer’s Prediction
Notre Dame should win, but Michigan should have their moments pumped up after the First Four win.
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