Michigan Basketball is coming off a dominating performance against a streaking Indiana team on Sunday. Can they keep up the momentum up against a struggling Illinois team on Thursday?
Matchup: Michigan Wolverines (15-0, 4-0 Big Ten) at Illinois Fighting Illini (4-11, 0-4 Big Ten)
Date and time: Thursday, Jan. 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET
TV schedule: FS1
Location: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
After starting off slow in their previous four games, the Wolverines finally got off to a hot start against Indiana on Sunday. They shot nearly 85% to start the game in building a 17 point first half lead. The second half they cooled off and Indiana was able to get it to a seven-point deficit but could get no closer and Michigan eventually won by 11.
It was good to see the Michigan offense playing as it had earlier in the season. The Wolverines had struggled to shoot the ball in their previous four games and if they would have been playing tougher competition they could have lost.
The defense was still very good and that has been the one constant all year. As long as Michigan continues to play defense like this they can beat anyone in the country.
Thursday night is the Wolverines first road game in over a month, but Illinois has not exactly been playing good basketball this year as they are just 4-11 on the year and 0-4 in the Big Ten. While winning on the road in conference play is never easy this is a good first game back on the road for Michigan and should not be as big of a challenge as the IU game was.
Even with that we take a look at the keys for Michigan to win the game and stay undefeated.