NCAA Basketball: Predicting when the last 11 undefeated teams of 2018-19 will fall
Michigan (8-0)
This Michigan team is good.
Really, really good.
Statistically one of the best defensive teams in the country, their suffocating approach to the game has held North Carolina, the 4th ranked team in offensive efficiency to 67 points. Purdue, 8th in the same category, was held to 57 points by the Wolverines and Villanova, 9th respectively offensively, only scored 46 points as Michigan extracted revenge earlier this season.
On the strength of Big Ten Player of the Year hopeful, Charles Matthews, and one of the favorites for Big Ten Rookie of the Year, Ignas Brazdeikis, there are little if any weak points in this team that John Beilein has crafted.
Along with their heavy hitters, Michigan leans heavily on Jordan Poole shooting nearly 50% from the field as well as from long-range, and their floor general, Zavier Simpson.
Trying to find a potential loss lurking is tricky, but not impossible. By the end of the year, there’s a chance we can count the amount of losses Michigan will take on one hand. The first one? Well, logic would dictate their first real road test in conference play comes January 19th when they take on Wisconsin.
However, this one could be a true pick ’em as KenPom gives Michigan a 49% chance to win. And honestly? That might be underselling the power of the Wolverines. I expect them to take the win on the road and continue with their Big Ten play.
I look at March 9th, where they square off with Michigan State as the Big Ten regular season swan song as to when we’ll see fatigue catch up to the Wolverines and they will suffer their first loss very late.
Wait…in the past two slides did I just insinuate we’ll come VERY close to two teams finishing the regular season unbeaten? The takes are hot today, folks!