The Michigan Wolverines are currently holding a perfect 3-0 record and are ranked in the Top-10, yet the early weeks of the season have raised several questions and concerns. Narrow victories against Wake Forest and TCU may have tempered enthusiasm for those eager to secure Final Four tickets. However, given the team’s reliance on a mix of transfers, some initial struggles shouldn’t come as a surprise, nor should they provoke alarm.
Looking ahead, the intensity is set to escalate with the upcoming Players Era Festival. Yet, before that, the Wolverines will have a critical matchup against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. MTSU’s performance has shown improvement over Oakland, but they still sit around 150th in the KenPom rankings, making a closely contested game unacceptable for Michigan. A stress-free win would certainly bode well after last week’s tension, though anticipating an effortless outcome can be risky.
The matchup against Middle Tennessee is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. ET, taking place at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI, and will be broadcast on BTN.
Historically, the two programs haven’t faced each other extensively in recent memory but have a few notable moments. In football, Shea Patterson led the Wolverines to a commanding 40-21 victory during the 2019 season opener, throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns. On the basketball front, MTSU made headlines in 2016 when they upset No. 2 seed Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, despite being a No. 15 seed.
As for statistics, Middle Tennessee boasts an impressive two-point shooting percentage of 65.7%, ranking fifth in the nation. However, much like TCU, their performance has benefited from weaker competition, making it likely that their efficiency will drop against Michigan’s staunch defense. Michigan has demonstrated their ability to stifle opponents’ inside scoring, keeping their opponents under 40% in two-point field goals combined in recent games. This will likely force MTSU to rely more heavily on three-point attempts, especially given their lack of a dominant center to score in the paint.
Another key area of focus will be backcourt scoring, with the Wolverines averaging 22.8 points per game. Aside from standout performer Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle, the group consisting of Elliot Cadeau, Nimari Burnett, and L.J. Cason has been inconsistent. As the season progresses, enhanced scoring depth from these players will be crucial for Michigan’s success.
With upcoming challenges on the horizon, the Wolverines hope to solidify their performance and confidence heading into the Players Era Festival, looking to maintain their momentum and prove their capabilities on the court.