This showdown demands a neutral DC venue (might Trump make an appearance?), as Cap One Arena gets some rare top-quality hoops after hosting the Wizards and Georgetown all season. Even if they played this at Duke, however, we wouldn't make a case for the Blue Devils. Michigan's frontline has a functional NBA look with rugged Fs Yaxel Lendeborg (14.4 ppg,/7.5 rpg) and Morez Johnson Jr (13.5 ppg/ 7.3 rpg) doing the dirty work, allowing 7-3 Aday Mara to concentrate on blocking and altering shots. Thus, Jon Scheyer’s 6-9 super frosh Cam Boozer (22.8 ppg/10 rpg) can expect to get banged around pretty good tonight. The Wolverines also seem to play better away from Ann Arbor (13-0 SU, ten by double-digits). Play Michigan (at Washington, DC)

So much of this game comes down to how each team can neutralize a strength of the other, creating a stalemate of elite two-way basketball. Both teams do a great job defensively of denying looks at the rim, something that is helped by both having an excellent combination of size, length and athleticism in the front court. That’s a big piece of why these are the top two teams nationally in defensive efficiency, and the question becomes how each offense chooses to make adjustments to find success. I think that process will take some time, and early possessions for both teams will be well-scouted and produce enough stops to keep our total under 72.

I generally avoid these types of games. Why? Well, why bother with two evenly matched national title contenders until I have to? I'd rather go trolling in the MAAC or the like and find Merrimack value. But I did kinda grow up on this "rivalry." I was definitely for Duke even though I wanted to punch Christian Laettner square in the face. So did everyone. No idea why these schools are doing this in the middle of conference play (money), but Michigan is just older, bigger and stronger. Certainly guarantees nothing, but I have to admit the Wolverines look absolutely loaded. Sucks as a Sparty; they are better than Michigan State. So we root for the Ann Arbor heathens one day at least.