Michigan basketball remains undefeated in Big Ten play and must keep its record unblemished on Thursday night against Minnesota:
The No. 20 Michigan Wolverines took care of business against Washington, keeping their undefeated Big Ten record intact. This week, they aim to maintain that streak with two more favorable matchups, starting with a trip to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday. Minnesota ranks last in both KenPom and Torvik’s Big Ten projections and is the weakest opponent left on Michigan’s schedule.
While Washington never really threatened to pull the upset on Sunday, the performance was not exactly dominant. Not every win needs to be a blowout, but it would be reassuring to see the Wolverines comfortably handle a clearly inferior opponent like Minnesota. Although Big Ten road games can be unpredictable, Dusty May has his squad firing on all cylinders right now.
No. 20 Michigan Wolverines (13-3, 5-0) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-9, 0-6)
Date & Time: Thursday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. ET
Location: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN
TV/Streaming: FS1
Preseason polls did not love the Gophers, and so far there is nothing to change that narrative. Outside of a narrow home win over Yale, Ben Johnson’s team has found little success. The Gophers are winless in Big Ten play and rank outside the KenPom top-100, putting them closer to the mid-major programs Michigan faced earlier in the season than their conference peers.
Even in down years the Gophers have caused some problems in these head-to-heads, and the teams are just 3-3 against each other in the past four seasons. A back-and-forth contest last January in Ann Arbor ended in a two-point Minnesota win despite 17 points from Nimari Burnett. Michigan did win its last trip to the Barn though, back in Dec. 2022.
One Big Question: Who decides the pace?
Under Johnson, Minnesota has embraced a slow tempo, ranking among the nation’s longest possession lengths on both offense and defense. However, the Gophers’ defense has been less able to hold back speedy Big Ten offenses and ranks near the middle in conference play. Meanwhile, Michigan thrives on urgency, leading the Big Ten in shortest offensive possession length.
The Wolverines excel at pushing the pace and finding high-quality looks before opposing defenses can get set. Minnesota will likely try to disrupt this rhythm by employing early ball pressure, throwing in some zone looks (though that did not work too well for Washington), and playing physical to limit Michigan’s transition opportunities. If the Wolverines can still impose their style of play against these tactics, they should have little trouble controlling the game.
One Thing to Watch: Fun in the paint
Minnesota’s defensive efficiency just barely sneaks inside the top-100, largely due to good two-point defense and block numbers. That should cause Michigan fans to raise an eye, as no team in the country has been better on the interior this season. It is hard to see this being the game where the Wolverines finally start settling for mid-range jumpers or find an inability to finish at the rim, as no one has been able to slow down the offense lately.
Given the Gophers’ defensive numbers have started dropping with the start of conference play, I am willing to bet on Michigan’s ability to score in the paint. Maryland was 15-for-23 at the rim on Monday, and the reality is that the defense is not as good as the early-season figures suggested. Of course, the Wolverines will move the ball and take some threes as well, but do not expect them to be intimidated down low.