Michigan (17–1, 7–1 Big Ten) and Ohio State (13–5, 5–3) meet Friday night in Ann Arbor with rivalry pride and conference positioning on the line. Michigan enters playing some of the most complete basketball in the Big Ten, while Ohio State arrives behind one of the league’s most productive guards, looking to steal a road win that could reshape its season.
Resume Check
No. 3 Michigan has built its success on balance, depth, and efficiency rather than relying on a single star. The Wolverines average 92.7 points per game while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field, with seven players contributing at least 7.5 points per night. Defensively, Michigan controls the paint and the glass, allowing it to dictate tempo and limit second-chance opportunities.
Unranked Ohio State leans far more on individual production. The Buckeyes average 83.2 points per game, but much of their offense runs through Bruce Thornton. While Ohio State has shown it can score in spurts, road inconsistency and defensive lapses have prevented it from climbing higher in the Big Ten standings. A win in Ann Arbor would be its most impressive result of the season.
Players to Watch
Michigan:
Yaxel Lendeborg leads the Wolverines with 14.2 points per game while adding 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals, making him Michigan’s most impactful two-way player. In the paint, Aday Mara anchors the defense, averaging 7.2 rebounds and a Big Ten-best 2.6 blocks per game. Guard Elliot Cadeau sets the tempo, leading the team with 5.0 assists.
Ohio State:
Bruce Thornton is the engine, averaging 20.7 points and 3.7 assists while shooting 56.5 percent from the field and over 41 percent from three. John Mobley Jr. provides a scoring complement at 15.3 points per game, while Devin Royal adds balance with 14.5 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds.
How Michigan Can Win
Michigan wins by attacking inside, sharing the ball, and defending without fouling. If Mara protects the rim and Lendeborg controls the glass, the Wolverines can force Ohio State into contested jumpers and gradually create separation.
How Ohio State Can Win
Ohio State’s path is guard-driven. Thornton and Mobley must score efficiently, limit turnovers, and hit timely threes. If the Buckeyes can slow Michigan’s transition game and avoid foul trouble inside, they can keep this competitive late.
Prediction
Ohio State’s guard play keeps the game close early, but Michigan’s depth, rim protection, and home-court advantage prove decisive as the Wolverines continue to look like one of the nation’s elite teams.
Prediction: Michigan 88, Ohio State 72
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