After opening the season with a 99-74 win over UNC Asheville, the Michigan Wolverines will look to make another statement on Friday when they host the Youngstown State Penguins.
Youngstown State Penguins vs. Michigan Wolverines (-17.5, 150.5)
After ranking seventh in the nation in points scored on a per-possession basis last season, Youngstown State’s start to the season did not go as planned with a 72-62 loss to Louisiana in its opener with a 2-for-23 shooting night from 3-point range.
While the Penguins were tasked with replacing four of their top five scorers from a season ago, only one of the departing players shot above 34.2% from 3-point range and brought in help to assist on the glass.
DJ Burns logged 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a starter in Murray State’s frontcourt and should hold his own against Michigan, who that had a worse rebound rate last season than Youngstown State.
Michigan ranked 130th in rebound rate last season while Youngstown State was 124th and, though the addition of Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua should elevate the Wolverines on both the boards and on defense, this Michigan team is in a transition.
A season ago, Michigan missed the NCAA Tournament despite having a pair of players that would eventually get selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft along with current Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson.
Along with having to operate without its top three scorers from last season, Michigan is currently without head coach Juwan Howard, who underwent heart surgery during the offseason, leaving former St. Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli to serve as the acting head coach for the time being.
The Wolverines have ranked outside of the top 100 in points allowed on a per-possession basis each of the past two seasons and though they cruised to a comfortable opening night win, will have issues with one of the nation’s most efficient offenses from one season ago.
The Play: Youngstown State +17.5
