Game Day Essentials: Game #22 at Michigan

Michigan Info

Head Coach: Juwan Howard
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Wolverines

Shirt not to wear: Yellow, Blue, Nike

Last time out: Lost to Michigan St.
Line: Michigan by 14.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 8

KenPom rank: 32

Other:  

• Nebraska Men's basketball has never won a game in Ann Arbor, 0-10 lifetime. The closest they've been is 6 points, twice.
• In the 9 games since putting up 20 vs Nebraska, Brandon Johns has scored 10 points.

Player to watch: Hunter Dickenson 

The offense runs through the massive Dickenson who rarely leaves the court. Besides excelling at rebounding and converting in the paint, Dickenson is also a gifted passer, able to work out of double teams.  He'll occasionally pop a 3, currently 9-25 on the year.

Player to watch:  Caleb Houstan

As you can see from this game chart, the success of Michigan thus far has correlated with the offensive output of 5 star Freshman Caleb Houston. Last time vs Nebraska he put up a 16 and 6.

Possible Michigan Starters

12 DeVante’ Jones G 6-1 200 GS New Orleans, La. (St. Augustine HS/Coastal Carolina) 

55 Eli Brooks G 6-1 185 GS Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove Senior HS)

22 Caleb Houstan G/F 6-8 205 Fr. Mississauga, Ontario (Montverde Academy [Fla.]) 

14 Moussa Diabate F 6-11 210 Fr. Paris, France (IMG Academy [Fla.]) 

1 Hunter Dickinson C 7-1 260 So. Alexandria, Va. (DeMatha Catholic HS)

Probable Rotation

23 Brandon Johns, Jr. F 6-8 240 Sr. East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing HS) 

5 Terrance Williams II F 6-7 230 So. Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga College HS)

10 Frankie Collins G 6-1 185 Fr. Sacramento, Calif. (Coronado HS [Nev.])

2 Kobe Bufkin G 6-4 175 Fr. Grand Rapids, Mich. (Grand Rapids Christian HS)

0 Adrien Nuñez G 6-6 220 Sr. Brooklyn, N.Y. (St. Thomas More Prep [Conn.])

Bench

3 Zeb Jackson G 6-5 190 So. Toledo, Ohio (Montverde Academy [Fla.])
4 Brandon Wade G 6-1 190 Sr. Ann Arbor, Mich. (Skyline HS/Duquesne)
11 Isaiah Barnes G/F 6-7 185 Fr. Chicago, Ill. (Simeon Career Academy)
13 Ian Burns G 6-6 200 Fr. Winnetka, Ill. (New Trier HS)
25 Jace Howard G 6-7 220 So. Miami, Fla. (University School)
42 Will Tschetter F 6-8 230 Fr. Stewartville, Minn. (Stewartville HS) 
44 Jaron Faulds F 6-10 240 Sr. Holt, Mich. (Holt HS/Columbia)

UNL Game Notes

Probable starters for Nebraska
1  Alonzo  Verge    G    6-3

2  Trey  McGowens    G    6-4

5  Bryce  McGowens    G    6-7

11  Lat Mayen    F    6-9

13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9

Rotation

0    C.J.  Wilcher    G    6-5

30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2

35    Eduardo Andre    F    6-11

10  Kobe Webster    G    6-0

Bench

23   Keon Edwards    G    6-7

3   Quaran McPherson    G    6-3

33    Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0
4    Jackson Cronin    G    6-1

12    Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0
15    Chris McGraw    G    6-0
21    Jace Piatkowski    G    6-3

Injured

14  Trevor Lakes    F    6-8

32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10

The Skinny: 

Michigan has been up and down this year but boy were they up when they came in completely demolished Nebraska in Lincoln in December. They recently rolled Indiana and then were rolled by Michigan St.  Tonight is a get right game for the Wolverines.

Nebraska still has no earthly idea how to win a close game but with the ever improving Bryce McGowens and the return of Trey McGowens, they at the very least haven't completely folded.  The return of Alonzo Verge will add another shot creator to the lineup but can Nebraska get 20 locked in minutes from him?  The rest of the team seems to be shooting the ball ok from outside with the exception of Keisei Tominaga who has gone from taking some bad outside shots to no outside shots.  Michigan doesn't have tall guards like Rutgers so it's a better play for him here.  The guards matter because with Trey McGowens back, KT, AZ, and Kobe are competing for minutees.

Nebraska has never beaten Michigan in Ann Arbor. It would be the upset of the year if this team could pull it off.

Prediction: Michigan 87 - Nebraska 70