Michigan vs Minnesota: 2019 Big Ten Tournament game preview, TV schedule
By Adam Childs
Michigan looks to keep rolling as they look to beat Minnesota in the Big Ten semifinals. Can they beat the Gophers a third time this year and head to their third straight Big Ten Championship game?
Matchup: Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-10) vs Michigan Wolverines (26-5)
Date and time: Saturday, Mar. 16 at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET
TV schedule: CBS
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
Michigan is coming off one of their best games of the year as they whipped Iowa by 21 last night in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. The Wolverines avenged an earlier season loss to the Hawkeyes and never let them get close in the second half. Michigan dominated every facet of the game except fouls called against hem in the half. Despite Iowa being in the bonus for about 15 minutes of the second half, Michigan was able to keep them from doing much else and had little trouble with the Hawkeyes.
Minnesota is fresh off an upset of Co-Big Ten champs Purdue, 75-73. It was the second time they had beat Purdue in the last two weeks. They were up big in the second half before the Boilermakers made a run, but the Gophers responded and held them off. Carsen Edwards of Purdue missed a game winning three at the buzzer as Minnesota escaped. The Gophers probably wrapped up a bid to the NCAA tournament with that win, but would love to pull off another upset and make it to the finals.
Jordan Murphy would lead the way against the Boilermakers scoring 27 points and Amir Coffey added another 21 to help the Gophers get the victory. Those two have been the leaders of the Gophers all year long and if they want to upset Michigan on Saturday they must continue to get that production from those two.
Minnesota shot just 13 three pointers against Purdue as they rely on the inside game to win games. Michigan has done a good job in the first two matchups of limiting them inside and it has helped them come away with two victories. After using a Charles Matthews buzzer beater to win their first meeting, the Wolverines controlled the game at Minnesota for a nine point win.
Michigan used good shooting to blow out Iowa on Friday. Combine that with great passing from Zavier Simpson (big ten tournament record tying 11 assists) and the Wolverines had little trouble. When the Michigan offense is running like it did against the Hawkeyes it will be tough for anyone to beat the Wolverines. Ignas Brazdeikis led Michigan with 15 points and was one of five different Wolverines scored in double figures. Michigan would also hit 10 three pointers and when they do that their offense is very good.
Michigan is looking to win their third straight Big Ten tournament championship and extend on their already record nine straight tournament wins. They would become the first team ever to win three in a row if they could win today and tomorrow. Minnesota appears to already be in the NCAA tournament with their first two wins, but would love to improve their seeding and grab their first ever tournament championship.
Even though the Wolverines won the first two games, Minnesota has played them tough. It will come down to who stays out of foul trouble and if Coffey and Murphy can get hot again. If they can control the game the Gophers have a great shot at another upset. But if Michigan can run their offense like they did against Iowa it might not matter. March brings out a different team in Michigan and they showed it again last night.
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If that teams shows up again they have to be the favorite to win the tournament. Look for them to come out again like they did Friday night and get another victory. Three games in three days will catch up to the Gophers and Michigan wears them out in the second half.