The Michigan Wolverines are set to take on the Kentucky Wildcats today in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The game is scheduled for a 5:05 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on CBS. Currently the odds for the game have Kentucky favored by a single bucket in this one.
Michigan played in the national championship game last season, losing to the Louisville Cardinals. In Kentucky's last game, they knocked off their in-state rival and defending national champion Cardinals with a solid second half. Now Michigan and Kentucky will square off for a right to play Wisconsin in the Final Four coming up on Saturday in Dallas.
The Wolverines have played two straight games against teams that are better than they are on the interior. The Wolverines love to get out, run in transition and have a lot of possessions. Michigan got wins over both Texas and Tennessee in their last two games, but each of those squads were more physical than the Wolverines on the interior coming into the game. John Beilein's team survived both of those games and are looking to utilize the same gameplan against Kentucky.
The Wildcats are young but very talented. They have grown up quite a bit in the last month or so and are starting to play like the team many expected them to be. Remember, Kentucky began the season ranked No. 1 in the country. The Wildcats have knocked off previously unbeaten Wichita State and then Louisville in their two most recent games. That makes a three-game stretch for Kentucky against three of last year's Final Four teams.
Julius Randle and the boys are going to want to push Michigan around in the paint. But Michigan's Jordan Morgan has been averaging a double-double in tournament games this season, so Michigan feels they can match up there with Kentucky. The Wildcats are expected to be without Willie Cauley-Stein, a 7-foot center, in this game against the Wolverines.
Michigan led Tennessee by double digits late in the game, but had to survive at the end, aided by a charge taken by Morgan, in the final seconds. Defensively they are going to have their hands full with all of Kentucky's young playmakers. The Harrison brothers, James Young and Marcus Lee are looking to cause Michigan some problems. Kentucky is young, and Michigan has many youngsters as well, but at least several Wolverines have Final Four experience from last season.
Nik Stauskas, Big Ten Player of the Year, hasn't been dominant in the tournament, but he is getting each team's best shot. Glen Robinson III and Caris LeVert have both been playing well so far this tournament and will look to continue with a big game tonight. If Michigan were to win this game against the Wildcats, they will have reached the Final Four without playing against a team higher than a No. 7 seed.
If Kentucky and their five freshmen starters can beat Michigan, they'll be the first squad to reach the Final Four with a group of youngsters like that since the Fab Five for Michigan back in 1992.
Michigan wants to get out in transition and go. Kentucky wants to slow the game down, get offensive rebounds and collect points on put-backs. Michigan was able to advance in the tournament despite playing bigger teams up front and are looking to do the same against Kentucky. Yet, if the Wildcats get second chance opportunities based on offensive rebounds, it could be difficult for Michigan.
Yet, we like the experience from the Wolverines. They've won two straight games over big, physical teams and we believe they'll be ready to go in this one. They're an underdog to the Wildcats, but we expect Michigan to earn the victory in this game and advance to their second Final Four in as many seasons.
Free Pick: Michigan 73, Kentucky 70
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