THE ESSENTIALS WHAT #26 Michigan (0-0) vs #155 PFW (0-0) WHERE Crisler Arena Ann Arbor, MI WHEN 6:30 PM THE LINE Kenpom: M -17 Torvik: M -13 TELEVISION BTN THE OVERVIEW Michigan attempts to avenge Tiny Jesus for a second time as they open the season against Purdue Fort Wayne which I liked better before their rebrand, as prior moniker "Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne" was a ridiculous mouthful. Last year a December game between these two teams was cancelled due to a Mastodons COVID outbreak. When actually on the court, PFW shared the Horizon League regular season title with Cleveland State but lost in the conference tournament and had to settle for a one-and-done appearance in the NIT. They return the vast majority of their production and are co-favorites with Northern Kentucky to repeat as league champs. This is a good mid-major and a relatively dangerous team to take on in a season opener no 300+ Kenpom ranking here. FWIW, a very similar PFW team played Minne
THE ESSENTIALS
WHAT
#18 Michigan (7-4, 1-1 Big Ten) vs #274 Purdue Fort Wayne (5-5, 1-1 Horizon)
WHERE
Crisler Arena Ann Arbor, MI
WHEN
7 PM Eastern Tuesday 12/21
THE LINE
Kenpom: M -23 Torvik: M -22
TELEVISION
BTN
THE OVERVIEW
Fort Wayne! Home of an infamous overtime hockey tournament loss! TODAY WE WILL AVENGE TINY JESUS!
(PFW got hammered 78-49 by Minnesota in their only game against a high major this year.)
THE US
Seth's graphic [click to embiggen]:
faq for these graphics
The banana peel on Jones can come off if he gets his TO rate under 20. Getting there.
THE LINEUP CARD
Seth's graphic [click for big]:
Pipkins is a little tenuous as a disaster factory because last year he was pretty good but an 88 ORTG on high usage is in the zone.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the preview.]