Michigan will play the Friars on Sunday afternoon.
Who: No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (4-0) vs. Providence Friars (3-1) Where: Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, Connecticut) When: Sunday, Nov. 18,1:30 p.m. ET Point spread: Michigan -7.5 Watch: ESPN Listen: Detroit: WWJ-950 AM; Ann Arbor: WTKA-1050 AM; anywhere: MGoBlue.com Tickets: TicketMaster.com ($25) Follow: Andrew Kahn
The two schools that had the overwhelming majority of fan support in their Saturday games will meet for Sunday’s championship.
Michigan, an 84-61 winner over George Washington, and Providence, which topped South Carolina 76-67, will play for the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament title inside the Mohegan Sun casino.
On Saturday, the Wolverines exceeded their season total to that point by draining 15 3-pointers. Jordan Poole set career highs with 22 points and five 3s. Zavier Simpson posted his first career double-double (14 points and a career-best 11 rebounds). He doubled his previous best with four 3s.
Charles Matthews scored from all over the court en route to 25 points, and Isaiah Livers came off the bench, played 21 minutes, and had 11 points and four rebounds.
Providence, picked to finish third in the Big East, took the court right after Michigan and dominated the second half against South Carolina. Down nine a few minutes into the second half, the Friars’ freshmen pushed them to victory. David Duke had 20 points and A. J. Reeves added 10. Both were top-50 recruits. Junior Alpha Diallo (17 points), a preseason All-Big East selection, is averaging 19.5 points per game for the season.
The comeback excited the Friar faithful at Mohegan Sun Arena, which Providence head coach Ed Cooley calls «Dunkin’ Donuts South,» a reference to the school’s home arena.
Cooley is in his eighth season at Providence. He’s reached the NCAA Tournament the past five years. The Friars, as a 10 seed, lost in the first round to Texas A&M last season.
This year, they beat Siena by 10, lost by three to Wichita State, and beat Holy Cross 70-61. Michigan beat Holy Cross 56-37 three days earlier.
Michigan center Austin Davis, who had played sparingly early this season, injured his ankle Wednesday against Villanova and did not dress for Saturday’s game. Head coach John Beilein said after the game he did not expect Davis to play on Sunday
Providence is 2-0 against Michigan all-time, with the last win coming in the 2004 preseason NIT.
Pre-game reading:
+ Michigan avoids letdown in first game after Villanova victory
+ Jordan Poole and friends light up George Washington from deep
