Michigan vs. Alabama NCAA Tournament predictions
James Hawkins, Connor Earegood, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Friday's Michigan vs. Alabama NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game at the United Center in Chicago (7:35 p. m.
, TBS/TruTV). ▶ James Hawkins: How high will the score go in this one? The Crimson Tide like to run, gun and bomb away from deep.
The Wolverines are at their best when they push the pace and get out in the open floor. Both teams are down a key piece — Alabama is without second-leading scorer Aden Holloway and backup point guard L. J.
Cason is out for Michigan — but have rolled, putting up at least 90 points in each of their first two NCAA Tournament wins. Michigan can win the race to that mark as long as it dominates in the paint on both ends. This is the time of the year when being able to beat teams in different ways matters, and when living and dying by the 3 is a dangerous dance.
Pick: Michigan, 90-84 ▶ Connor Earegood : I took a lot of heat for refusing to rank Alabama in my AP ballot after Nate Oats tried to bring in pro player Charles Bediako via court order. And after that whole debacle wound up with a judge declaring Bediako ineligible anyway (I was right), turns out Alabama is still pretty good. Good enough to beat Michigan?