Michigan-Chattanooga Preview and Game Thread

Are your belt buckles popping after Thanksgiving? Here’s an extra helping of Michigan basketball the day after.

Michigan hosts the Chattanooga Mocs Friday night in Crisler Center.

This is the only tune-up before a top-25 rematch from last year with North Carolina in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 28.

Chattanooga is currently 2-4, with victories over Charlotte and Cumberland. The Mocs lost to Jacksonville 74-66 last Sunday.

For reference, the Wolverines cruised past Jacksonville 76-51 in Dec. 2017.

Michigan’s top-ranked efficiency defense faces the No. 336 offense in the country per KenPom.

The Mocs have three players scoring in double figures Mocs, led by 15.0 points per game from freshman forward Kevin Easley. Freshman guard Donovann Toatley scores 10.5 points per game while senior center Thomas Smallwood scores 10.2 points per game. Smallwood snags nearly nine boards a contest.

This is the first Power Five conference matchup for head coach Lamont Paris and his program in 2018.

Paris is a former assistant under Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, and is in his second year in the program. He sports a 10-23 overall record.

This is the first tilt in the series since Brian Ellerbe manned the sideline for Michigan. The Wolverines bested the Mocs 72-61 on Dec. 4, 1999 when Crisler Center was known as Crisler Arena.

Michigan is 4-0 all-time against its Southern Conference visitors.

How to Watch

Teams: No. 9 Michigan Wolverines (5-0) vs. Chattanooga Mocs (2-4)

Date: Friday, Nov. 23

Location: Crisler Center — Ann Arbor, Mich.

Tipoff: 4 p.m. ET

Television: BTN

Join us below for conversation throughout the game!