#18 Michigan v. Providence

What will be the GAME RESULT?

#18 Michigan: Wins By 15+ Points

Any Other Result

Current odds:

Michigan: (-355)

Providence: (+295)

• The line for this game is Michigan by 8 points.

• No. 18 Michigan on Saturday wasn’t quite able to match the high standard it had set defensively over its first three games, but John Beilein’s squad picked a fine time to snap out of its 3-point shooting funk. The Wolverines eye their best start since winning 16 in a row to begin the 2012-13 season on Sunday, when they face Providence in the title game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. After holding each of its first three opponents to 46 points or fewer and allowing none of them to shoot over 31.8 percent, Michigan saw George Washington enjoy moderate success before putting on a 10-for-18 display from 3-point range in the second half to post an 84-61 semifinal victory. Although the Wolverines surrendered season highs in field-goal percentage (39.1) and points, they more than made up for it by going 15-for-30 from beyond the arc after opening the season 14-for-62.

• The Friars relied heavily on freshmen to pull out a 76-67 win over South Carolina on Saturday, getting a season-high 20 points from David Duke and six of A.J. Reeves’ 10 points during a 10-0 run to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit. Providence is attempting to capture its second Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament title in as many tries after winning it in 2014.

• Zavier Simpson (6.8 points, six rebounds, 6.5 assists) set the tone for the Wolverines for a second straight contest, recording five of his team’s 11 steals in Wednesday’s rout of No. 8 Villanova before nearly posting a triple-double Saturday with 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Charles Matthews (team-high 18.5 points) poured in a season-high 25 points and has found his range over the last two games, making 17-of-26 shots after going 12-for-29 in his first two contests. Jordan Poole (8.8 points) registered a fine offensive performance Saturday, finishing with a career-high 22 points while tying another personal best with five 3-pointers.

• Alpha Diallo (19.5 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) fell one rebound shy of posting his fourth straight double-double to begin the campaign in Saturday’s victory, finishing with 17 points, nine boards, a season-high seven assists and three steals. Duke began his college career with 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting over the Friars’ first three games prior to his 8-for-15 effort versus the Gamecocks, but turnovers remain a problem for him as he has committed at least three in every contest. Reeves (15.8 points) was the only other Friar to score in double figures on Saturday, but the Massachusetts native is a combined 4-for-14 over the last two contests after opening his career 17-for-23.

• The Wolverines have shot 50 percent or better in each of their last two contests after converting at a 36.7-percent rate or worse in their first two.

• Friars coach Ed Cooley notched his 147th win on Saturday, moving into a tie for fourth place with Al McClellan for the most in program history.

• Simpson has recorded at least five assists in every game this season.