The Main Event title game features the Arizona Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines. Which team will take home the championship and a marquee victory?
TV schedule: Sunday, November 21st, 9:30 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
The Arizona Wildcats (4-0) have a new head coach in Tommy Lloyd and a revamped roster and there were some questions concerning how good they’d be, even after easily handling three inferior opponents to start the season. But they looked as if they were going to easily pass the first test of the season against Wichita State in the Main Event Classic, leading by as much as 15 points in the game.
However, the Shockers were able to come back and take a late lead, ultimately forcing it to overtime thanks to AAC Player of the Year Tyson Etienne and his game-high 27 points. Credit to the Wildcats though, who was able to prevail for the 82-78 victory thanks to 25 points and 10 rebounds from Bennedict Mathurin, along with 16 from Azuolas Tubelis. Big man Christian Koloko had a big impact on both ends, going for 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks as well.
The next “test” for Arizona is one in the top-10 variety with the Michigan Wolverines (3-1). Earlier in the week, the Big Ten program lost at home to Seton Hall. They then had to travel to Vegas for a defacto road game against the UNLV Rebels, who held strong for about 30 minutes the other night.
However, Michigan was able to pull ahead for a 74-61 win. Eli Brooks led all scorers with 22 points, while point guard Devante Jones (9 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) was on triple-double watch. Five-star freshman Moussa Diabate had his breakout game of the early season, going for 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Star big man Hunter Dickinson had an efficient 13 points in the win and leads the Wolverines on the season with 17.3 ppg and 7.8 rpg. He’s on his way to another All-American campaign but will face a stiff test inside in Koloko. Meanwhile, freshman Caleb Houstan will have his hands full, going up against both Mathurin and Tubelis on the wings.
This is an interesting matchup where Arizona can limit what Michigan does best inside and has the athletes on the wings as well. If they can slow down Brooks on the perimeter, I think they’ll have a great chance at pulling off the upset.
Prediction: Arizona 76, Michigan 70