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3 reasons Michigan basketball will upset No. 18 Indiana

Tomorrow, the Wolverines will face the 18th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in one of the biggest games on Michigan’s schedule.

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Feb 8, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) shoots on Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday, the Michigan basketball team (14-10, 8-5 Big Ten) will host the 18th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers (17-7, 8-5 Big Ten) at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan is riding a three-game winning streak into this matchup, and if the Wolverines expect to get back into tournament contention, they’ll need to take down the Hoosiers this weekend.

Here are three reasons that Juwan Howard and Co. will upset Indiana tomorrow evening.

Crisler Center will work its magic

So far this season, Michigan basketball is an incredible 10-3 in its own gym. On top of that, only one of the Wolverines’ losses came to a Big Ten team, which also happens to be the nation’s No. 1 team (Purdue). The other losses were to No. 3 Virginia and, somehow, Central Michigan.

Still, in Big Ten matchups, the Wolverines are 6-1 at Crisler, and tomorrow night, we could see the Crisler Center work its magic once again. Seeing as this is the Wolverines’ final quadrant one game at home for the remainder of the 2022-23 regular season, I suspect that Michigan fans may pack the Crisler Center for this massive matchup. Additionally, in case Wolverine fans needed another reason to come out and support the team, the 2013 team — including John Beilein — will he honored at halftime.

Wolverines are getting hot from the floor

Throughout the season, we have seen Michigan basketball struggle to make shots, turn the ball over frequently, and struggle to move the ball around. Over the past three games, that streak seems to have ended; this is a huge reason that the Wolverines have now won three games in a row.

In Michigan’s most recent game, the Wolverines scored a whopping 93 points against a Nebraska team that had just upset Penn State. Michigan’s win was impressive, but even more so, it showed us that the Wolverines are starting to get over their previous scoring woes.

Seeing as Michigan is at home, where they shoot their best games, we could see another offensive explosion. Indiana comes into the game averaging over 77 points per game. If Michigan can keep pace early on and make big shots down the stretch — which has been a frequent issue this year — the Wolverines will pull off the upset.

Michigan basketball is mostly healthy

A storyline throughout the season has been the health of the Wolverines ever since starting point guard Jaelin Llewellyn went down early on. Since then, freshman point guard Dug McDaniel has taken over for the Wolverines, and frankly, he has done a terrific job thus far.

Last month, Michigan freshman guard Jett Howard — one of the Wolverines’ best shooters — went down with an ankle injury in the win over Minnesota. He has since recovered and gave Michigan basketball an incredible 22 points in the win over Nebraska earlier in the week. When Michigan is healthy and locked in, it has the ability to defeat nearly anyone in the nation; the struggle this year has been maintaining this status consistently.

As Hunter Dickinson insinuated during the pregame media availability, there are no more tune-up games left for Michigan basketball. If the Wolverines want to make it to the NCAA tournament next month, they’ll need to pick up some massive wins down the stretch. One of Michigan’s biggest games remaining on the 2022-23 schedule is tomorrow night — it’s time for the Wolverines to put the past behind them and extend their winning streak to four in a row.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebookand Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms.

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BREAKING: Juwan Howard has surgery, Martelli to assume interim coach role

BREAKING: Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard has successful surgery. Phil Martelli to take over as interim head coach.

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Juwan Howard, Michigan basketball, Phil Martelli
Mar 5, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard in the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Today, news broke that Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard, who is entering his fourth season at the helm in Ann Arbor, had open heart surgery over the offseason. With Howard recovering, long-time assistant Phil Martelli is slated to be the Wolverines’ interim head coach to open the 2023-24 season, which is fast approaching.

Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard has heart surgery, Phil Martelli to serve as interim coach

The 2023-24 Michigan basketball season will look a little different later this year, as Phil Martelli will be stepping in as interim head coach. Today, it was confirmed that Juwan Howard — the team’s full-time head coach — is recovering from heart surgery right now.

“I feel so grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at University of Michigan Health,” said Howard in a statement. “My wife, Jenine, and our family appreciate the world-class care that has been provided to us. Dr. (Kim) Eagle, Dr. (Himanshu) Patel, Dr. (Stanley) Chetcuti, and all of the staff at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center are so talented and performed like champions throughout this process. I am going to work very hard in my rehabilitation to be stronger than ever by the time our upcoming season is upon us.”

Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel added the following:

“We are extremely grateful Juwan’s proactive procedure was a success and that he is resting comfortably,” said Warde Manuel. “We will continue to support Juwan, Jenine and his family as well as the program throughout his absence. All of us at the athletic department have Juwan in our thoughts and prayers. We look forward to Juwan’s return when he feels that he has fully recovered.”

It is expected that Juwan Howard will return to the court as head coach for Michigan basketball later in the season.



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Elite Michigan basketball target will be in Ann Arbor tomorrow

Tomorrow, an elite Michigan basketball target (2024 recruiting class) will be in Ann Arbor for his first-ever visit with the Wolverines.

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Michigan basketball, recruiting, No. 1 recruit in Virginia, Juwan Howard
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Juwan Howard and his Wolverines will be hosting Patrick Ngongba, an elite Michigan basketball target in the 2024 recruiting class, shortly. Ngongba, the No. 1 recruit in Virginia, has the Maize and Blue among his finalists and will be making the trip to Ann Arbor tomorrow (September 8th).

Elite Michigan basketball target about to be in Ann Arbor

While the 2023 Michigan Wolverines football season is now in full swing and has the attention of the entire fanbase, it’s worth noting that Juwan Howard and the Maize and Blue are hot on the recruiting trail in the 2024 recruiting class and beyond. After a tough 2022-23 season, Howard needs some good news to right the ship in Ann Arbor — tomorrow, he will have a massive opportunity to get one step closer to landing an elite recruit.

Patrick Ngongba is the No. 1 recruit in Virginia (for the 2024 recruiting class) and is an elite Michigan basketball target. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound center is an ESPN five-star prospect and is ranked among the top 30 players in the country in the composite rankings. So far, Juwan Howard has landed two prospects in the 2024 cycle, neither of which is rated anywhere close to Patrick Ngongba in the composite standings.

Can Juwan Howard land Patrick Ngongba in the 2024 recruiting class?

For the time being, Michigan basketball appears to be on the outside looking in ahead of Patrick Ngongba’s visit tomorrow — Duke and Kansas State currently have the best odds of landing him, per the Recruiting Prediction Machine. That said, Juwan Howard is a solid recruiter, and a visit to Ann Arbor, MI, ahead of a football game weekend could be a difference-maker for the Wolverines down the stretch.

According to the On3 visit tracker, tomorrow will be the first time that Michigan basketball gets the No. 1 recruit in Virginia on campus. This further showcases how important the visit will be for the Wolverines if Juwan Howard expects to have a shot against some of the other major programs vying for his commitment.

***If you missed it, Tom Brady is searching for the biggest Michigan fan! We have a great series going right now as a part of our Fan Flex challenge series — below is the link to our latest challenge! Among this week’s prizes includes an invite to the Blue by Ninety tailgate and a Blue by Ninety beer (for those of age) See the link below for more!

LINK: https://autograph.outgrow.us/blueby90-3



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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Michigan basketball recruiting will host No. 1 point guard in September

Michigan basketball recruiting will host the No. 1 point guard of the 2025 class for an official visit.

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Michigan basketball recruiting No. 1 point guard
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan basketball is coming off of its most disappointing season of the Juwan Howard era. After missing the national tournament for the first time since taking over as head coach, Howard is already looking ahead to the future to right the ship for the Wolverines. Recently, Joe Tipton of On3 Sports announced that Darius Acuff — currently the No. 1 point guard of the 2025 recruiting class — will visit Ann Arbor in early September.

Michigan basketball recruiting will host official visit for No. 1 point guard Darius Acuff

Michigan basketball has a huge opportunity to lock down an elite prospect this September. Acuff’s official Ann Arbor visit will reportedly last from September 1-3.

Acuff is among the nation’s best and currently holds the No. 1 On3 industry ranking among point guards in the 2025 class. Across all positions, the six-foot point guard is the No. 9 industry-ranked player in the country.

Acuff is originally from Detroit, MI and played basketball at Cass Tech before recently transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. Michigan basketball currently holds the lead on Acuff’s recruitment on On3’s recruiting prediction machine with a 45.4 percent chance. Also in contention for Acuff’s recruitment are Kentucky, Michigan State, and Ohio State.

While Michigan basketball lost lots of talent this offseason, the recruiting game has been heating up as well. Landing a top-tier talent like Acuff could be just what the Wolverines need to build their recruiting momentum.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and InstagramYou can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. 

Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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