5. Can the Illini get Michigan in foul trouble?
There is a chance that Michigan plays well tonight because of how talented they are from behind the three-point arc. One thing Illinois can use to help deter the Wolverines from scoring a lot of points is the foul game.
While Michigan has talent who can score the basketball well, they tend to be an undisciplined bunch. They can’t seem to stay out of foul trouble, and that is what Illinois needs to expose.
So, can Illinois get Michigan in foul trouble on Thursday night? Will we be able to affect the game because the Wolverines have to go deep into their bench?
For the season, Michigan is averaging 17.5 fouls per game. This is bad enough to rank No. 215 in the country. In some of the losses this season, the Wolverines have gotten into foul trouble. Michigan dropped a game to Penn State and four starters had four fouls apiece.
Getting Michigan into foul trouble will not only affect their starters in the scoring department, but the Wolverines aren’t a very deep team. They go six or seven deep, at best. When they do go to the bench, it is a massive talent drop-off too.
If Illinois can get Michigan in foul trouble, this could be a great night for the program. Illinois has been able to do this against other teams, and the Wolverines wouldn’t be able to handle their starters riding the pine. Let’s take this game to Michigan.