Michigan Basketball returns home from the West Coast with legitimate aspirations. Here is our full preview for today’s game against Washington:
After a sweep in Los Angeles, the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines return home brimming with confidence — and rising expectations. A 4-0 start to Big Ten play, featuring ranked wins at Wisconsin and UCLA, has positioned Dusty May’s squad as serious conference contenders. While the season is far from over, the growing optimism surrounding this team is only going to increase.
That stems in part from a favorable upcoming stretch, starting with a visit from the Washington Huskies on Sunday. Although the back half of the conference schedule will present tougher challenges, Michigan’s January slate, aside from a trip to West Lafayette, is relatively soft. Winning these games against the lower-tier teams is critical, and this contest should not be particularly competitive.
Washington Huskies (10-6, 1-4) at No. 24 Michigan Wolverines (12-3, 4-0)
Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, MI
TV/Streaming: BTN
The Huskies have not been a historically great program and have not made the NCAA Tournament since before Covid. This season, they sit near the bottom of the Big Ten and face the risk of missing the conference tournament. Currently, they rank just inside the top 100 in KenPom and hold a 1-4 conference record, though three of those losses came against UCLA, Illinois, and Michigan State (in embarrassing fashion), which is a tough early draw.
Of the eight Pac-12 football and men’s basketball additions, Washington hoops is arguably the least exciting. Like USC, there is little history with the Wolverines on the court. Of course, Michigan fans have fond memories of playing Washington last January, but that is not exactly what is going on here. I suppose it is fun to play someone new, but it will take a while for the Huskies to be any sort of premier basketball opponent.
One Big Question: By land or by three?
Washington allows some of the fewest three-point attempts in the country and holds opponents to just 28 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Even in conference losses, no team has lit it up from deep against this defense. Meanwhile, Michigan has embraced the three-pointer lately, hitting double-digit threes in each of its past four games, ranking top-30 nationally in accuracy.
The Huskies’ scheme prioritizes aggressive closeouts and disciplined rotations, which suppresses opponents’ three-point shooting. However, this focus comes at the expense of a miserable two-point defense. While Michigan might not abandon the three, this matchup sets up well for the Wolverines’ strong interior game. Washington has a few shot blockers, but lacks the size to effectively contain the Vlad Goldin-Danny Wolf duo in the paint.
One Thing to Watch: Total domination
Michigan’s road trip revived an old habit of letting big leads slip away. While the Wolverines ultimately secured both wins, it would be reassuring to see them build a commanding lead and maintain it, as was the case against Purdue Fort Wayne and Western Kentucky over the holidays. The Huskies are not substantially stronger than either of these teams and have an offense around No. 150, so there is no reason for this game to get messy.
Washington ranks near the bottom in both offensive and defensive efficiency in Big Ten play. While the tough schedule is a factor, Michigan is just as good (or better??) than any of those previous opponents. The Huskies do have a knack for drawing fouls, and an active whistle could make the game slightly more frustrating. Still, unless the Wolverines completely lose focus on Sunday afternoon, this should be a comfortable win at home; anything less would warrant scrutiny.