Can Michigan continue hot shooting today vs. Kentucky?

INDIANAPOLIS — It doesn’t seem possible.

It’s critical for Michigan to shoot well from long range to beat Kentucky today in the NCAA regional final at Lucas Oil Stadium. But after two straight games topping 50% from three-point range, it is possible for them to match or even exceed that today? Recently for the Wolverines, the second game of a weekend often is often played at a higher level. Recall their dominant play against Texas last weekend and last year’s VCU, Florida and the strong start against Louisville in the national title game. “I just think it’s natural, once you’re in here, you’ve practiced twice, played a game, a shoot-around, you extra time, so the background

settings, the surroundings, become a little more familiar each time you come in,” U-M assistant coach LaVall Jordan said. “It’s not like playing at home but you get a little more comfortable each time.

The biggest external challenge to the Wolverines may not be the shooting background or the elevated floor at Lucas Oil Stadium, but instead the crowd, expected to be heavily slanted to the Wildcats with the Big Blue Nation taking over.

“Thank goodness we’ve had a pretty good road record this season,” Jordan said, as U-M is 15-6 away from home, 7-4 in true road games, which this may feel like. “They’re going to come out. But our fans are going to come out too, so we’ll see if we can match it.”