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

By Adam Childs

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)
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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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 06: Jordan Poole #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a second half basket with Charles Matthews #1 while playing the Indiana Hoosiers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 74-63. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 06: Jordan Poole #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a second half basket with Charles Matthews #1 while playing the Indiana Hoosiers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 74-63. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. Get off to a good start

This was a key to the Indiana game also, but we are going to roll with it again. Michigan got off to a great start against IU by scoring the first 17 points of the game. And while the Hoosiers were able to get to within nine in the second half they were completely out of their game from the very beginning. The Wolverines took the crowd out of the game and did basically whatever they wanted.

They won’t have to worry about the opposing crowd on Tuesday, but they could also use their home crowd to an advantage and by getting off to a quick start they could have the Crisler Center rocking.

Ohio State is also in a very similar position as the Hoosiers were on Friday. The Buckeyes are not playing particularly well and are desperate for a big-time win. The Wolverines can take them out of their game by jumping on them early, plus it keeps them from thinking they have a shot to pull off the upset. The longer the Wolverines let them hang around the more confidence the Buckeyes will get.

Michigan has had a bunch of games this year where they got off to a slow start, and they have the defense to keep them in the game. But by putting the Buckeyes away early it will make everything much easier. The Buckeyes will come ready to play but the Wolverines need to throw the first punch and get ahead. Plus you can just see the confidence in the offense come back to the Wolverines when they get hot early.

The Buckeyes are desperate and will come out in this game hungry. But they struggle with teams that play good defense. The Wolverines are going to get after Ohio State and force a lot of turnovers in the first half. They come out strong for a second consecutive game and get up early on the Buckeyes.

Next. In-depth look at Michigan-Michigan State rivalry. dark

Look for Ohio State to battle and keep within striking distance before the Wolverines overwhelm them in the second half. The Buckeyes will struggle to score against Michigan’s suffocating defense and the Wolverines get to 20 wins with a win over their rival.

Final Prediction – Michigan 71 Ohio State 56

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