2015-16 houston baptist

Duncan Robinson (19 points) and Caris LeVert (28) led the onslaught. [Barron]

There once was a game in Tree City
For the foe we only felt pity
The home team scored lots
The road team did not
While you watched football on TV

THE ESSENTIALS

Right: Michigan's offensive prowess was downright terrifying the last time these two teams met. [Fuller]

THE US

You can breathe a little easier; X-rays on Derrick Walton's ankle, which he turned in nasty-looking fashion against NC State, came back negative. He's going to miss some time with a sprain. How much is uncertain:

"So it's a sprain," Beilein said on his weekly radio show on Wednesday night. "It's a mild sprain."

Shortly thereafter, Beilein added, "He sprained his ankle badly — I don't know what type of grade it would be, but it's sprained and we do not know when he'll be back.

"Hopefully it's not before too long."

Walton's absence shouldn't be an issue against Houston Baptist; it'd hurt if he couldn't give it a go next Tuesday at SMU. Based on Beilein calling it both a "mild" and "badly" sprained ankle in the span of a few minutes, the timeline for a return is unclear. Today, Beilein said they'll "wait and see" if Walton can play tomorrow; my guess is they won't feel the need to push Walton against a very overmatched opponent.

THE LAST TIME

Michigan played Houston Baptist two years ago. If you think the KenPom line—Michigan is favored by 23—is a little extreme, it's nothing compared to the margin from the 2013-14 matchup, which the Wolverines won 107-53 while scoring a nearly unfathomable 1.62 points per possession. Most importantly, Andrew Dakich hit a three:

Pew pew.

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the preview.]