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James Hawkins, Connor Earegood, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second-round game between Michigan and Saint Louis (12:10 p.m./CBS).
▶James Hawkins: The battle of bigs — bespectacled Robbie Avila versus 7-footer Aday Mara — should be a spectacle. Saint Louis likes to play fast, which Michigan will have no objection to. The Wolverines will be determined not to let the Billikens get hot from deep and should have enough moves up their sleeves in this chess match. Pick: Michigan, 84-78
▶Connor Earegood: Saint Louis and Cream Abdul-Jabbar sounds like the name of a really bad alt band, but Robbie Avila can make sweet music on the court. Both teams hung a hundred on their first round foes, but it'll be Michigan who keeps its fast pace come Saturday. That frontcourt is just too good, as it was Thursday, to entertain an upset. Pick: Michigan 81-64
▶John Niyo: Both teams love to play with pace and embrace the new-age basketball beliefs about shot diets and offensive efficiency. But even though more possessions usually means less variance, the difference in this one will come down to the turnovers. That’s a dicey proposition for a 1-seed that has its careless moments, but the Wolverines’ transition game will save them in the end. Pick: Michigan, 87-83
▶Bob Wojnowski: If the Wolverines thought Howard was deadly from 3, wait until they see St. Louis, third in the nation from long range (39.8%). The Billikens get balanced scoring from their four-guard lineup, with folk hero big fella Robbie Avila also an excellent 3-point shooter. The Wolverines must feast inside with Aday Mara and their superior size and crank up their defense. Pick: Michigan, 88-78
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions for Michigan vs. Saint Louis in NCAA Tournament March Madness
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Predictions for Michigan vs. Saint Louis
▶James Hawkins: The battle of bigs — bespectacled Robbie Avila versus 7-footer Aday Mara — should be a spectacle. Saint Louis likes to play fast, which Michigan will have no objection to. The Wolverines will be determined not to let the Billikens get hot from deep and should have enough moves up their sleeves in this chess match. Pick: Michigan, 84-78
▶Connor Earegood: Saint Louis and Cream Abdul-Jabbar sounds like the name of a really bad alt band, but Robbie Avila can make sweet music on the court. Both teams hung a hundred on their first round foes, but it'll be Michigan who keeps its fast pace come Saturday. That frontcourt is just too good, as it was Thursday, to entertain an upset. Pick: Michigan 81-64
▶John Niyo: Both teams love to play with pace and embrace the new-age basketball beliefs about shot diets and offensive efficiency. But even though more possessions usually means less variance, the difference in this one will come down to the turnovers. That’s a dicey proposition for a 1-seed that has its careless moments, but the Wolverines’ transition game will save them in the end. Pick: Michigan, 87-83
▶Bob Wojnowski: If the Wolverines thought Howard was deadly from 3, wait until they see St. Louis, third in the nation from long range (39.8%). The Billikens get balanced scoring from their four-guard lineup, with folk hero big fella Robbie Avila also an excellent 3-point shooter. The Wolverines must feast inside with Aday Mara and their superior size and crank up their defense. Pick: Michigan, 88-78
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions for Michigan vs. Saint Louis in NCAA Tournament March Madness
Continue reading...
