NCAA Men’s Basketball has had a great season thus far. Conference clashes are heating up, and no conference is hotter than the Big-10 right now.
They will see top-contenders, Northwestern Wildcats and the Michigan Wolverines, face off soon enough. Both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25, with Michigan (16) sitting 3 spots ahead of the Wildcats (19).
First Gameday of 2021…
𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗜𝗧 😤#B1GCats | #PoundTheRock pic.twitter.com/LRDRzAtoIo
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 3, 2021
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The Wolverines are currently 8-0, with their biggest wins coming against Nebraska and Maryland. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have suffered 2 losses out of their 8 games played. That includes a shock loss to Pittsburgh and an expected loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Both teams are looking to establish their credentials as top teams in the Big 10 Conference. Which team wins this to make that statement louder?
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Will the Wildcats end the Wolverines win streak?
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Both teams are going to face a rough schedule in the especially competitive Big-10 Conference this season. Both teams are not as heralded as some of their opponents, but a win here will help their case by a lot. Despite this being a relatively close matchup, there is a slight favorite in this clash.
The Wildcats are coming off a game against Iowa where their defense was exposed. But this team’s strength lies offensively. However, they tend to get a little streaky and inconsistent, especially against tough defensive sets. The Wolverines definitely have more talent, but haven’t faced dangerous opposition like the Wildcats this season.
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The Wolverines will start the game with Mike Smith, Eli Brooks, Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers, and Hunter Dickinson. The Wildcats will take the floor with Boo Bule, Chase Audige, Miller Kopp, Robbie Beran, and Pete Nance.
For our prediction, we pick the Wolverines to go 9-0. Their home arena has been a fortress for them against the Wildcats, as NW has lost their last 6 games at the Crisler Center. Coupled with the strength in the Michigan defense, this will be a hard obstacle for NW to overcome.