Western Kentucky, Michigan each eye 10th win of season

Reaching 10 victories before the New Year is an achievement worth aiming for, and both Western Kentucky and Michigan will have a chance at it when they meet Sunday night in Ann Arbor.

Western Kentucky (9-3) earned a 91-71 home win over Division II Kentucky Wesleyan on Dec. 21 and comes in averaging 82.0 points a game while shooting 37.2 percent from 3-point range.

Winners of six straight, the Hilltoppers have four players averaging in double figures in scoring: Don McHenry (18.5 points per game), Babacar Faye (15.2), Julius Thedford (11.8) and Khristian Lander (11.1).

“We’re just trying to get better day by day and week by week,” coach Hank Plona said. “Obviously we have some new pieces and we are a different team. We have had different experiences. We are playing a slightly different style. There are some similarities, but there are some differences too. We’ve had to grow. To these guys’ credit, they’ve bought into certain things on both ends of the floor.”

Michigan (9-3) also is coming off a lengthy holiday break, having last played on Dec. 22 in an 89-58 home win over Purdue Fort Wayne.

The Wolverines, who have won eight of their last 10, are shooting 34.7 percent from 3-point range and scoring 81.7 points per game.

Vladislav Goldin (13.7), Roddy Gayle Jr. (12.5) and Tre Donaldson (12.3) lead Michigan in scoring, while Danny Wolf is averaging 11.8 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds.

With three losses by a combined five points, The Wolverines are that close to being an unbeaten top-10 team.

“At the end of the day, we’ve played really, really high-level basketball for about 25 to 30 minutes in all three (losses),” Michigan head coach Dusty May said. “And our goal is to just get closer to 40 minutes of high-level basketball. And I think as coaches, we’re not looking for perfection. We’re just looking for intense, passionate effort for 40 minutes.”

–Field Level Media