Tennessee Volunteers at Michigan Wolverines
Date and Time: Friday 3/28/14 at 7:15pm on CBS
Game Line: Michigan -2 (from JustBet)
Over/Under: 134
Friday Sweet 16 Tennessee Volunteers at Michigan Wolverines Analysis: Three years ago, Martin left surging Missouri State to take over a Tennessee program reeling from an NCAA investigation. Despite showing steady improvement, Martin’s job appeared to be in jeopardy as recently as mid February. Fans wondered how long Martin’s rebuilding project would take, if Martin was the right guy to complete the task and if the Volunteers had the right players to make any sort of NCAA tournament noise if they even got in. But, Martin, a cancer survivor, proved the doubters wrong. He rallied his team for three straight victories, winning by margins of 13, 19 and 20 points, and earning a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. But Friday night’s challenge may be the Volunteers’ toughest since their March 15 loss to SEC champion Florida. Beating the 11th-seeded Volunteers would send Michigan into a Sunday contest against either eighth-seeded Kentucky or fourth-seeded Louisville, the last two national champs. Coach John Beilein knows it won’t be easy. Michigan has relied primarily this season on a strong offense, which finished second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (47.5), third in scoring (74.0) and has three double-digit scorers including Big Ten player of the year Nik Stauskas who averages 17.4 points per game. The Volunteers, however, have limited foes to 61.4 points, 41 percent shooting and have held 11 straight opponents to fewer than 70 points. Five of those teams couldn’t even top 50. If Martin’s team can duplicate that effort Friday, the Volunteers would play in a regional championship for only the second time in school history. Tennessee will need their big guys and defense to stand out and hold the Michigan perimeter shooters if they’re going to win this game. However, Michigan’s three pointers have been dropping all tournament long and there’s no reason to think they will slow down in Indianapolis. Tennessee doesn’t have the offensive weapons to win a game that creeps into the 70s and that’s where this one will end up.
Tennessee Volunteers at Michigan Wolverines NCAA Basketball Picks: Michigan -2 and over 134
Tennessee Volunteers at Michigan Wolverines Game Prediction: 76-69 Michigan
What to expect in this NCAA Tournament match up: This will be a game of runs, as Tennessee’s defense will shut down the Michigan offense in spurts. Tennessee will surely win the battle of the boards and that will keep them in the game throughout but Michigan’s tournament experience and experience in close games will help them down the stretch. Michigan is one of the best teams in the country and limiting fouls and turnovers and that will prove to be the difference late in the game.
