Preview and prediction: Michigan basketball vs. Central Michigan

Michigan Wolverines basketball is set to host Central Michigan Thursday night at Crisler Center. Here’s everything you need to know before tip-off.

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Game information: Michigan basketball vs. Central Michigan

Date	Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022
Venue	Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Time	7:01 p.m. ET
TV / Stream	Big Ten Network Plus (not televised)
On The Call	Ray Flores (play-by-play) and Trey Demps (analyst)
Radio	Detroit: WWJ-Radio (950 AM) | Ann Arbor: WTKA (1050 AM) | Grand Rapids: WOOD (106.9 FM) | Stream: MGoBlue.com
On The Call	Brian Boesch (play-by-play) and Terry Mills (color)
Betting Line	Michigan -21, o/u 146.5
Kenpom Prediction	Michigan 85, Central Michigan 65

Michigan projected starters

• #0 – Freshman guard Dug McDaniel (5-11, 160) — Tallying 5.6 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 boards per game … Shoots 36.9 percent overall — 38.3 percent on twos and 33.3 percent on threes (6-of-18) … Generates 0.875 points per ball-screen possession (including passes), which ranks in the 54th percentile nationally.

• #2 – Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin (6-4, 195) — Averaging 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game … Shooting 47.6 percent from the field, including 13-of-38 from three (34.2 percent) … Hit 11 of his last 18 three-pointers over the last five games … Puts up 0.889 points per ball-screen possession (including passes), which slots in the 57th percentile in the country.

• #13 – Freshman guard Jett Howard (6-8, 215) — The head coach’s youngest son is posting 15.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per outing and leading the team with 29 made triples on 72 tries (40.3 percent) … Has a 58.3 effective field goal percentage on jump shots.

• #5 – Junior forward Terrance Williams II (6-7, 225) — Recording 7.7 points and 7 rebounds per clash while connecting on 35.4 percent of his overall shots and 28.2 percent of his three-pointers (11-of-39) … Is used as a spot-up shooter and offensive rebounder on the offensive end.

• #1 – Junior center Hunter Dickinson (7-1, 260) — The two-time All-Big Ten performer and 2021 second-team All-American is in the 76th percentile nationally with 1.055 points per post-up possession … Averaging 18.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting a whopping 55.9 percent from the field and 5-of-12 from three-point range.

Key bench contributors

• #15 – Graduate guard Joey Baker (6-7, 205) — The Duke transfer is averaging 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 12-of-26 from long range (46.2 percent) … He’s 3-of-10 on two-point attempts.

• #32 – Freshman forward Tarris Reed Jr. (6-10, 260) — Michigan’s highest-rated 2022 signee is recording 3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10 minutes per night … Connects on 53.8 percent of his field goals (all two-pointers) and is just 5-of-21 from the free throw line.

Central Michigan projected starters

• #3 – Junior guard Jesse Zarzuela (6-3, 180) — The Coppin State transfer is averaging 13.8 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.9 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from long range … Produces 0.781 points per ball-screen possession (including passes), which ranks in the 35th percentile nationally.

• #1 – Freshman guard Reggie Bass (6-4, 185) — Registering 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 33 percent overall and 31.7 percent from three-point range … Used as a spot-up shooter (0.875 points per possession) and pick-and-roll ball handler (0.543), though he’s not particularly efficient as either.

• #0 – Senior guard Brian Taylor (6-6, 205) — The Illinois-Chicago transfer is averaging 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in his second season with the Chippewas … A spot-up shooter and driver who mainly creates his own shot.

• #11 – Freshman forward Ola Ajiboye (6-8, 220) — Averaging 2.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, and shooting 54.2 percent overall with all but three of his shots coming from inside the three-point arc … Started five of 11 games.

• #12 – Senior center Miroslav Stafl (6-11, 235) — The Czech native transferred in from Hartford two seasons ago … He averages 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per outing, while shooting 47.2 percent overall and 25 percent from three (3-of-12) … Shoots an excellent 78.6 percent at the rim.

Key bench contributors

• #44 – Freshman guard Max Majerle (6-4, 185) — Recording 3.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, averaging 16.5 minutes, while shooting 36.4 percent of his looks from the field and 25 percent from long range.

• #4 – Junior forward Carrington McCaskill (6-8, 210) — The Henry Ford Community College transfer is averaging 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.4 percent overall and 1-of-12 from long range … Averages 18 minutes per contest.

Scouting Central Michigan

Central Michigan has had a rough season with only four wins, all against teams either not in Division I (Purdue Northwest, Alma) or ranked worse than 300th in Kenpom’s overall adjusted efficiency (Eastern Illinois, Cal St. Northridge).

The offense has been a struggle, ranking 308th nationally in efficiency, with a 46.4 effective field goal percentage (302nd), a 29.4-percent clip on threes and 47.7-percent mark on twos. The Chippewas also turn the ball over on 28.1 percent of their possessions. All of those marks are dismal, leading to what has been another disappointing season to this point. They went 7-23 last season and haven’t had a winning record since 2018-19.

The defense is better, but still poor. They slot 262nd in the country in efficiency, and allow opponents to shoot 32.9 percent from three and 53 percent on twos. The three-point defense mark is actually solid, better than the national average. They also force turnovers on 21.9 percent of their opponent’s offensive possessions.

Central Michigan plays man-to-man defense on 89.1 percent of possessions and mixes in zone the rest of the time.

Prediction

Michigan had another long break in between games and is looking to regain momentum after a tight, 80-76 loss to North Carolina in Charlotte last week. The Maize and Blue should roll here and move on to Big Ten play, where the beginning of the slate looks more difficult than originally anticipated.

Michigan begins with Maruyland, Penn State, Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern and another date against the Terrapins. All of those games are against top-50 opponents, as it stands now.

The ideal time to figure out rotations and an identity was a few weeks ago, at the least. Michigan is still a work in progress in that regard. However, the Wolverines have flashed some potential, competed with high-level opponents. The consistency has to improve — no more playing down to weak opponents’ level — and so does the defense.

Prediction: Michigan 90, CMU 68