Michigan Basketball: 2018-19 keys for the Wolverines against Ohio State

By Adam Childs | Jan 28, 2019

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 22: Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a second half basket while playing the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Crisler Arena on January 22, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 59-57. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 25: Brandon Johns Jr #23 and Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines defend the shot of Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on January 25, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Force turnovers

This would seem like an obvious key to any game, but with Ohio State being 112th in the country in turnovers it becomes a bigger key. The Buckeyes can be careless at with the ball at times and with the way Michigan plays defense it could result in a lot of turnovers.

Michigan will run when they get the chance and have done a good job this year of getting out on the break after a turnover. But they are better at getting a turnover and getting a good possession out of it. They have gone on big runs when they get the other team flustered and in turn, they turn the ball over more.

In a game last week against Purdue, the Buckeyes turned the ball over 13 times in the first half and it seemed like most of them were in a ten-minute stretch where the Boilermakers turned a seven-point deficit into a double-digit lead. If Michigan can get the Buckeyes playing like that they could blow the game wide open.

Michigan is third in the nation with the fewest turnovers, a full three turnovers less per game than Ohio State. If Michigan continues to protect the ball and force Ohio State into playing sloppy, they should come away with an easy win.

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