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3 keys and a prediction for Michigan Basketball vs. No. 22 Xavier


3 keys and a prediction for Michigan Basketball vs. No. 22 Xavier

. 6-0. 480. Wednesday, November 27th. 485. 8:30 p.m. EST. Fox Sports 1st matchup. 5-1

With the win over Virginia Tech, Michigan basketball earned its way into the Fort Myers Tip-Off Championship Game, set for Wednesday night against Xavier.

The Musketeers enter the game 6-0. They beat Wake Forest, the only team Michigan basketball lost to, and South Carolina. The other wins were buying games. Michigan Basketball has wins over TCU and Virginia Tech as well as buying game wins.

At first glance, there are similarities between the two teams, starting with the fact that both made drastic changes to their rosters last season. Sean Miller is still the head coach at Xavier, but after a 16-18 season, the Musketeers added Ryan Conwell from Indiana State, who is averaging 17.5 points per game. He is an elite 3-point shooter at 47 percent and averages 3.7 per game.

Conwell will be a key piece for the Wolverines. He has hit two triples in every game this season. He went 2-8 against South Carolina, but like Michigan, which shot 29 percent from 3-point range, the gym had to make some adjustments.

I expect both teams to shoot better on Wednesday night. Zach Freemantle is another name to know. The 6-foot-9 center will be an interesting matchup for Michigan with Vlad Goldin. He shoots 55 percent on 2-point attempts, but is 41 percent from 3-point range and loves to shoot as a trailer in transition, where the Musketeers are dangerous, as are the Wolverines.

Xavier is ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, but is actually No. 38 in the Kenpom rankings, compared to No. 32 in Michigan basketball. It should be an entertaining matchup and a chance for the Wolverines to add a signature win to their resume.

Here are three keys and a prediction.

Both teams want to take turns getting out and preventing the other team from doing so. Xavier was dangerous in transition, but not so much against strong opponents.

Michigan also wants to get out and attack in transition. The Wolverines struggled in the early stages of the Virginia Tech game but finally got going and their biggest problem was that they didn’t look good outside of turnovers.

Freemantle and Conwell are really good shooters in transition and they’re not the only ones, so transition defense will be important. Kenpom said taking advantage of scoring opportunities in transition will also be important, especially against college basketball’s No. 13-matched defense.

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