New Michigan 247Sports Crystal Ball Prediction
Lugard Edokpayi, a four-star edge rusher for District Heights (MD) Bishop McNamara in 2024, is now ranked Michigan in my most recent 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast.
ANN ARBOUR, Michigan: In a game for supremacy over Washtenaw County, Michigan men’s basketball will play Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon, with Juwan Howard making his comeback as head coach.U-M comes in off almost a week off and a close loss on the road at Iowa. However, off-court reports of a verbal confrontation between Jon Sanderson and Howard that led to an HR inquiry clouded that significant win in Iowa City.
Following his off-season heart surgery, athletic director Warde Manuel verified on Friday night that Howard was medically cleared to return. He also stated that no evidence was found during the internal inquiry into the incident “to warrant disciplinary action for anyone involved.”
“We are very grateful that Phil Martelli, our associate head coach, led our programme in an interim capacity to begin the season. I would want to express my gratitude to Phil directly for his leadership of the programme over the last few months. His insight will continue to help us in the future.
“After a review of an event involving multiple people at a team exercise last week, our regular coaching structure has returned. An extensive internal assessment revealed nothing that would have called for disciplinary action against any of the parties involved. We shall therefore proceed, concentrating on our squad and the next season.
Now for some basketball talk: Jace Howard sought a second opinion regarding his injury and hasn’t returned to practice, but U-M assistant coach Phil Martelli anticipates Jaelin Llewellyn (knee) to make a comeback versus the Eagles. The Wolverines face their in-county opponents as strong favourites (-23) despite the anticipated absence of Jace Howard.
With losses to Butler, Florida Atlantic, North Dakota, and Oakland, EMU is 5-4 overall on the year. Their defence, which is ranked 331st out of 362 programmes nationwide, is a major factor in their KenPom rating of 304th.
Tyson Acuff, a 6-foot-4 forward, leads the Eagles in scoring, shooting 85% at the free throw line, 35.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 60% on two-pointers. U-M should have a clear advantage in the inside of this game as well: The 7-foot Georgia Tech transfer Cyril Martynov offers relatively little offensive threat; no other player who plays more than 25% of the minutes for EMU is taller than 6-foot-8.
For those who recall the EMU vs. Michigan game played in Detroit last year, Legend Geeter, the star forward, is back, but Emoni Bates left to play in the NBA, while guard Noah Farrakhan moved to West Virginia.
The EMU game is mentally taxing since it takes place in mid-December in the middle of the afternoon on a campus that has been gradually emptying up as a result of the holiday break, as Phil Martelli pointed out when he previewed the game on Friday. The talent gap on the floor should make for a pleasant afternoon if the Wolverines can overcome the mental obstacles.
