Michigan needed a win to boost its resume with the selection committee and the Wolverines made a statement with a last-second three to knock off top-seed Indiana on Thursday. The way things have fallen so far in the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines may just pick up the automatic bid.
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HOW THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Something of a disappointment after entering the Michigan program as a coveted recruit, and a player who hadn’t played double-figure minutes since December, he might have saved the Wolverines season. Welcome to March Madness baby!
Forward Kameron Chatman drained a three-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining to give the Wolverines the upset of top-seed Indiana on Thursday, and gives them more ammunition to present the selection committee if they don’t claim the automatic bid.
And it’s hard to say Michigan won’t run the table after what’s happened in the first two games of the Big Ten tournament. Zak Irvin drained the game-winner in overtime against Northwestern on Wednesday, and now the heroics of Chatman.
Some might say the Wolverines are a team of destiny. However the games still have to be played. Slowing down Purdue’s talented front court is first on the list of things to do in order to advance to the championship.
HOW THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Purdue took care of Illinois in the quarterfinal round and got some revenge in the process. The Boilermakers were upset in Champaign in January, in what was the worst defeat of the season. Fourth-seeded Purdue now has a chance to advance to the finals for the first time since it won the championship in 2009.
The frontcourt tandem of A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas had their way with Illinois. They combined for 26 points on 13 of 15 shooting and dominated down low. Expect the Boilermakers to do much of the same against an undersized Michigan squad.
The game was sealed when Vince Edwards and Dakota Mathias starting knocking down threes. With their inside game that also features Caleb Swanigan, the Boilermakers are tough to stop if the triples start falling.
Purdue was a motivated bunch against the Illini, avenging that defeat from earlier in the year. If they stay motivated, the Boilermakers will be difficult to contain.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Are the Wolverines a team of destiny? It’s hard to say no after what happened over their first two tournament games. Michigan needed a few wins to strengthen its case for an NCAA Tournament bid, now the Wolverines are looking at a possible run through the event. The Wolverines are doing things they don’t normally do. They’re playing close games, and winning them. A team not known for forcing turnovers did it 15 times against Indiana, taking the Hoosiers out of their offensive rhythm and harassing Yogi Farrell. But while all the talk surrounds Michigan and its two nail-biting wins in the tournament, let’s not forget about Purdue, one of the most well-rounded teams in the conference. Not only do the Boilermakers have a big size advantage in the post, they also have a big talent advantage. Hammons and Haas will be a load for the undersized Wolverines, and if the two play as well as they have lately, Michigan will be powerless to stop them.
Purdue 83, Michigan 76
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