No.1 Michigan has Edge On the Perimeter Over No.3 Indiana in Big 10 Showdown

The biggest showdown of the 2012-2013 College Basketball season will take place on Saturday evening, as the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines travel to Bloomington to take on No. 3 Indiana, in a battle for not only Big 10 supremacy, but most likely the number one spot in the country come Monday.

Indiana is seeking to reclaim the ranking that they started the season  so proudly defending, and Michigan is looking to cling on to the number one ranking that they were granted not even a week ago, after 21 years since the last time they were the top team in the nation.

Both of these teams are top-15 scoring teams in the country (Indiana is actually first), so don’t expect this game to be a typical Big 10 slugfest where the first team to get to 40 points wins. In fact, with Michigan having won each of their last three games by at least 12 points, and Indiana having scored at least 70 points in five of their last seven games, this game will probably be filled with highlights and tons of big shots.

And that’s why I think Michigan has the edge.

As great as Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo have been for Indiana, I think the combination of Tim Hardaway Jr., Nik Stauskas, and Glenn Robinson III, with Trey Burke leading the way, give Michigan a huge advantage on the perimeter, which is where I think this game will be won.

All four of Michigan’s perimeter threats are averaging double-digits in scoring on the season, and with Indiana having shown some vulnerability in defending the three-point line (Michigan State hit 11-of-23 when the teams squared off last Sunday), I think the Wolverines outside shooting will prevail in this big matchup.

I do like the way Jordan Hulls, Yogi Ferrell and Oladipo play feisty defense, and they’ll all give Michigan tough defensive assignments as well, but I think the Wolverines as a team are faster and more athletic than the Hoosiers. Indiana is a team that relies on points off of turnovers and fast breaks, and with Michigan not committing many turnovers, I don’t think Indiana will be able to force a composed team like Michigan to play out of their comfort zone.

The Burke and Ferrell matchup will be the main one to watch, unless coach Tom Crean decides to put his lockdown defender, Oladipo, on the Naismith worthy Wolverines point guard.

For hoops, hip-hop and other random sports and pop culture commentary, follow Jared Mintz on Twitter @JaredMintzTruth