It’s been a nearly flawless campaign for Michigan Basketball to this point, ranked No. 1 overall in the latest AP poll and coming off a massive road win over top-15 Purdue. Not only have the Wolverines become the clear favorite in the Big Ten, but they also have the potential to cut down the final nets in Indianapolis in the Final Four.
However, a massive test awaits them in the form of the Duke Blue Devils (24-2), with the metrics having them right up there with Michigan overall. Besides bragging rights, the path to the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament is up there for whoever wins this neutral site battle on Saturday.
Here are the keys to victory for Michigan getting another victory.
1. Defending Cameron Boozer
There are plenty of quality players in the Big Ten but Michigan hasn’t faced someone the caliber of Boozer, who leads Duke with 22.8 ppg and 10 rpg. The National Player of the Year contender has played well against all frontcourts but the Wolverines, with three starting forwards of at least 6’9, will be the toughest test yet. They can either throw 2-time American DPOY star Yaxel Lendeborg, the physical Morez Johnson, or the 7’3 shot-blocer, Aday Mara. Look for the Wolverines to throw everything at Cameron and if they shut him down, it could get ugly.
2. Another good game from Elliot Cadeau
If there’s any kind of “weakness” for Michigan Basketball, it’s starting PG, Cadeau. His production has been volatile, having five double-digit scoring games in between 17-point outings, including in the win over Purdue. It’s almost impossible to beat the Wolverines if Cadeau has a strong game, and there’s also LJ Cason, one of the top backup playmakers in the country. But ideally, Michigan gets a good balance offensive both inside and out.
3. Get to the foul line
It’s not a surprise that Michigan is great at getting to the FT line, ranking in the top-40 nationally. But Duke is not only elite on defense overall, but also great at preventing free throws, second nationally at just 9/13 per game. If this game is close and points really matter, the Wolverines could use some free ones at the line and, with their size, should be able to get them. It could be a sneaky x-factor to watch in a close battle.