The Michigan Wolverines are enjoying their dominant win at No. 7 Purdue earlier this week, but they immediately had to focus on another potential Elite Eight (or higher) matchup with the Duke Blue Devils.
A rare cross-conference class in late February gives Dusty May and his team a taste of the madness that awaits them next month. This one is going to be a lot of fun. Here are the three keys to victory for the Wolverines.
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Limit turnovers
If Michigan is careless with the ball, Duke is going to take advantage. The Blue Devils have the third-ranked defense in the country, allowing just 63.2 points per game. They also cause about 13 turnovers per game. While Michigan’s offense is probably the best Duke has seen this year, these numbers are telling when it comes to limiting possessions and making things uncomfortable for opponents.
The Wolverines like to play fast, and turnovers are part of that. At Purdue earlier this week, they had just two turnovers in the first 12 minutes, resulting in this absurd 48-32 halftime score. No team can keep up when playing effectively, even in hostile environments.
But in the second half, Michigan recorded 11 turnovers, allowing the Boilermakers to bring the lead back to single digits and win the half, 48-43. Time and time again, taking care of the ball has been the difference between this team being dominant or just really good. Easier said than done, but the Wolverines need to do everything they can to be smart with the ball.
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Reigns Cameron Boozer
Earlier this week, Michigan had its toughest solo game to date against Braden Smith. Dusty May executed a defensive game plan that completely shut him down for the first half (0 of 4 with zero points).
The Wolverines are now preparing for Cameron Boozer, the favorite for almost every player of the year award. The 6-foot-9 freshman is averaging 22.8 points and 10 rebounds per game while shooting 58.2 percent from the field and just under 40 percent from deep. He has been the most consistent player in college basketball this year and has very few flaws in his game.
At the same time, the Wolverines might have the best chance of anyone in college basketball to slow him down. Not only do they have 7-foot-3 Aday Mara — the Big Ten’s best shot blocker — to help in the paint, but they also have two other starting forwards, Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg, to guard it end-to-end. Their unique size is what has caused their opponents problems all season, and that might be their best advantage against Boozer. If they can keep it even half a secret, it could still make a difference.
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Own the Glass
Michigan attacked the offensive glass against Purdue, and that was a big reason for the big halftime lead. It felt like Michigan got a second or third look at a miss on every possession. As already mentioned, Boozer averages a double-double because he crashes on the stripe, so limiting his opportunities goes hand in hand with putting a man on him and getting the ball back after a miss.
Duke and Michigan are both top 20 in the country in rebounding, with the Wolverines edging the Blue Devils by a slight average of 41.5 to 39.7 per game. Believe it or not, but this slight difference could play a huge role. In Michigan’s most dominant stretches this season, he owns the glass and continues to convert on the other end of the court with his highly efficient offense. The more possessions this team has, the greater their chances of standing out in matches against the best opponents.
There is a world where whoever wins the chess boards also wins the game. Michigan has the length that should give it the advantage, but if Duke is competitive or wins the rebounding battle, expect this one to go in the Blue Devils’ favor.
