The NCAA Tournament is here! The Big Ten tournament champion Michigan Wolverines are set to take on the UC San Diego Tritons in the first round. This is an always intriguing 12-5 matchup, and many believe the Wolverines got screwed by their draw after beating the top teams in the Big Ten last weekend. Regardless, you have to play who is in front of you. Here is a preview of the first-round matchup.
Michigan vs. UC San Diego Preview
- Date: Thursday, March 20th
- Game Time: 9:00 PM EST
- Venue: Ball Arena
- How to Watch (TV): TBS
- Michigan Record: 25-9
- UC San Diego Record: 30-4
A pair of big men have been the bread and butter of Michigan’s team all season. First-team All-Big Ten center Vladislav Goldin is the team’s top scorer, averaging 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Center Danny Wolf is a double-double machine, averaging 13.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. From there, a rotating cast of guards allows head coach Dusty May to go with the hot hand. They will look to control the tempo and exploit the lack of size of their opponent.
Standing in their way are the UC San Diego Tritons, a team that went 30-4 this year and ended the season on a 15-game winning streak. The Tritons are known for their stifling defense, which often translates well to the NCAA Tournament. Unlike the Wolverines, their scoring comes from a trio of guards led by Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, who averages 19.5 points per game. They hope to wear down their opponents with relentless energy on both ends of the floor.
Prediction
If you are looking for an upset pick, this one is a good bet to make. Michigan has struggled with one thing this year: turnovers. The Wolverines turn the ball over about 14 times per game, one of the nation’s worst averages. By way of contrast, the Tritons force 15.9 turnovers a game, which ranks eighth in the nation. If the Wolverines continue to be sloppy with the ball, this is a team that will make them pay.
The Wolverines could give UC San Diego some trouble on the boards. The tallest player on the Tritons is 6-foot-8. Goldin and Wolf are 7-foot-1 and 7-foot, respectively. There’s a chance May centers a game plan around his two big men, and key members get into early foul trouble. Despite this, I’m going with the Tritons to pull off the upset. Teams who are sloppy with the ball don’t all of a sudden change in the NCAA Tournament.
