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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the second time in a four-day stretch, a top 25-ranked Michigan team will face off against the No. 1 team in the nation.
While it didn’t work out well for the football team this past Saturday, the basketball team is coming off two-straight top ten wins, which is why the Wolverines found themselves moving from the land of the unranked all the way to No. 4 in the country on Monday.
Michigan might be undefeated, but so, too, is Louisville, and with this game on the road, it’ll be a more daunting challenge than even the wins over then No. 6 North Carolina and then No. 8 Gonzaga in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
So what do the maize and blue have to do to get a win over the Cardinals? Quite a lot in head coach Juwan Howard’s eyes.
“They’re a very good team, obviously – the rankings show that,” Howard said. “They play extremely hard defensively. They play with a lot of energy at home. Very good team to transition – generate 15 points in transition. So must get back. Also, we must guard the three-point line. Their attackers do an excellent job of getting out in transition trying to get a layup to finish or make plays for others. This is the kind of big game where we have to take on the challenge guarding one-on-one as well as getting back in transition.
“And, last but not least, boxing out on rebounds, because they hit the offensive glass really hard.”
While the last three games equated to three wins, and it was the first three games away from Crisler Center, it’ll be a different environment entirely on Tuesday.
Being on a neutral court when you’re a big program like Michigan can mean that many of the fans in attendance are loudly rooting for you. That won’t be the case when the Wolverines head to the KFC Yum! Center on Tuesday night.
This will be Michigan’s first true road test of the season, made all the more challenging because of the quality of opponent. However, the team has not only made it through the first series of challenges unscathed, thus, it’s ready for the next obstacle in Louisville.
“We’re playing in a tough environment,” Howard said. “We’re going into the lion’s den, I would say. They play extremely well at home. This is going to be our first time being road tested in non-conference play. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I know our players are, too.”
The Wolverines and Cardinals are set to tip-off on Tuesday night at 7:30PM at the KFC Yum! Center. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
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