Busting Brackets
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Montana Basketball: 3 reasons why the Grizzlies will beat Michigan

By Nolan Schmidt

LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 19: Head coach Travis DeCuire of the Montana Grizzlies reacts from the bench during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on December 19, 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 19: Head coach Travis DeCuire of the Montana Grizzlies reacts from the bench during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on December 19, 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament between the San Francisco Dons and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 88-60. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament between the San Francisco Dons and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 88-60. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Reason 1: Superior Rebounding

Statistically speaking, Montana is a better rebounding team than the Wolverines. Now, you can make the argument that this disparity is based on conference talent level. However, the Grizzlies hauled in 37 rebounds per game, which was in the top-100 in the NCAA. Yet, they were three other Big Sky teams with 37 or more team rebounds per game as well (Idaho, Portland State, and Northern Colorado). The Big Ten also had four teams who tallied 37 or more rebounds per game. Michigan was not one of them.

In fact, the Wolverines were 11th best in their conference in rebounds per game. To go even further, their 33 rebounds per game would have been in the bottom half of the Big Sky. As if things could not get worse for Michigan, the Grizzlies love to crash the offensive glass. They are poor on the boards defensively as it is, so they will have trouble boxing Montana out. The more chances the Grizzlies are afforded on offense, the more dangerous they are, especially in March.

If Montana controls the glass like they have this entire season, the more likely it is that they control the pace of the game. That is the absolute last thing Michigan wants especially with an offense that can be hit and miss at times.

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