Michigan vs. Nebraska: College basketball game preview, TV schedule, prediction
By Bryan Mauro
Key players to watch
Glynn Watson Jr. – Nebraska
The junior point guard is the engine that makes Nebraska go. If Watson is aggressive and attacking the rim, it opens up the offense and the floor for Isaac Copeland and James Palmer Jr. Copeland and Palmer are the ones that Nebraska relies on for points when they need them, but Watson is and has been the key focal point for opposing defenses to stop. Watson is great at getting to the rim and is a streaky shooter. When he gets going, he can carry an offense and could lead Nebraska to upset Michigan. If Watson can score in double figures and stay in attack mode, Nebraska becomes a tough matchup for a lot of teams. Because of how quick Watson is, and the ability of Palmer and Copeland to put the ball in the basket, Nebraska becomes tough to guard.
Watson has quick hands on the defensive end of the floor and can lock guys down. He can force opponents into turnovers and is a good rebounder for his size. For Michigan to shut Watson down, they are going to want to keep Watson in check and force him into taking long jump shots or even 3-pointers. That is the one weakness in Watson’s game. He is not a great shooter and sometimes forces shots.
Moritz Wagner – Michigan
Wagner has been a thorn in Nebraska’s side since he has arrived on campus at Ann Arbor. Wagner is a knockdown shooter, and typically Tim Miles coached teams have had trouble with players like Wagner. If the Huskers do not have a gameplan drawn up to stop Wagner, it could be another long night in Lincoln for the Huskers. So far this year, Nebraska has been good at running teams off of the 3-point line and forcing them into rushed jumpers. Nebraska is also more equipped with Copeland and Roby to guard Wagner and try to run him off of the 3-point line.
Wagner is not a great free throw shooter and does not play much inside as he makes a living shooting from the outside. Michigan’s offense is all about flow and ball movement, which usually leads to a wide open three or an easy layup. The Huskers run a good 1-3-1 zone and Wagner is going to be relied upon to make threes yet again in this matchup.