Michigan Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Wolverines to beat Oregon

By Adam Childs | Dec 13, 2019

ANN ARBOR, MI - DECEMBER 6: Michigan Wolverines Head Coach Juwan Howard talks with the referee during the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Crisler Center on December 6, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Iowa 103-91. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 14: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks sets up a play against the Utah Utes during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Utes 66-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Lockdown Pritchard

It is no secret that Payton Pritchard is the key to the Ducks offense. He is leading the team with 18.8 points per game and is a good rebounder also grabbing just over four a game. When he is playing well the whole team plays better and the offense runs smoother.

The good thing for the Wolverines is they play pretty good defense against guards as Zavier Simpson is one of the best defenders in the country. He will probably be tasked with slowing down Pritchard and he will take it as a personal challenge.

Pritchard will score his points, but the Wolverines can’t afford to let him get going. When they played Seton Hall in the Bahamas, the Pirates did a good job of slowing him down but when he got going the Ducks clawed back and won the game.

His lowest-scoring game of the year was 14 against Memphis and the Ducks were able to still win the game. Michigan needs to keep him from getting going from deep as he is shooting right at 40% from deep this year and has hit at least three from deep in each of his last four games.

He is such a dangerous player that he is tough to guard and stop, but Simpson and company can keep him down they have a great shot at winning this game. But if they can’t contain him it could be a long day for the Wolverines.

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