East No. 11 – Michigan Wolverines (Overall: 22:12, Conf: 10-8)
Team Strengths
Despite missing star Caris LeVert to injury at the start of the year, the Michigan Wolverines made the NCAA tournament with a massive Big Ten conference tournament performance. The Wolverines may not have LeVert, but they excel in defense and ball movement. They’re 73rd in the nation in assists per game (15) and 69th in points allowed per game (67.5).
Michigan’s ball movement could free up one of the best three-point shooters in the nation. Former NAIA player Duncan Robinson is 90 of 200 on the year so far. Having a red-hot three-point shooter will be very important heading into the Big Dance.
Team Weaknesses
Rebounding is a problem for the Wolverines. They’re near the bottom of the nation with 32 rebounds per game (326th). Michigan doesn’t have a proven big man who could dominate the boards. Fielding a small ball lineup could have the Wolverines struggling against bigger opponents. They may surrender plenty of second chance opportunities or struggle to defend the rim against teams with solid frontcourts.Team Stats
Category | Stat | NCAA Rank |
---|---|---|
Points Per Game | 74.3 | 148 |
Rebounds Per Game | 32 | 326 |
Blocks Per Game | 2.19 | 319 |
3-Point Percentage | 38.4% | 30 |
Free Throw Percentage | 73.7% | 41 |
Starting Lineup
Position | Name | PPG |
---|---|---|
F | Mark Donnal | 7.9 |
G | Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman | 8.2 |
G | Derrick Walton Jr. | 11.7 |
G | Zak Irvin | 11.7 |
G | Duncan Robinson | 11.2 |
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan’s backcourt play helps them win the First Four game against Tulsa and upset Notre Dame before running out of steam in the Round of 32.
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