Wolverines to Return to Play with Road Trip to No. 21 Wisconsin

Sunday, February 14

Madison, Wis.

Noon CT

Michigan

Wisconsin

Eli Brooks (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines to Return to Play with Road Trip to No. 21 Wisconsin

2/11/2021 12:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Tom Wywrot

» No. 3 Michigan restarts its Big Ten regular season, heading to No. 21 Wisconsin for the second meeting of the season.
» Chaundee Brown, Jr. needs one point to reach 1,000 in his collegiate career.
» Hunter Dickinson leads U-M in scoring (15.1 points), rebounding (7.2 per game) and blocks (1.4 per game).
» Mike Smith leads the Big Ten in assists with 5.6 per game.

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The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team (13-1, 8-1 Big Ten) returns to the hardwood following a 23-day hiatus after U-M's athletic department activities pause due to COVID-19 protocols. Now, the Wolverines head to Madison, Wis., to take on No. 21 Wisconsin (15-6, 9-5 Big Ten) at the Kohl Center -- in their second meeting of the regular season. The game is scheduled for a noon CST tipoff on CBS with Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst) on the call.

Hail From Home

Game days may look different this season, but the tradition of cheering on Michigan men's basketball continues. Hail From Home is our way to virtually bring the excitement of game day to fans. Throughout the season, fans can look forward to a variety of digital engagements including a game day check-in with monthly prizes, fan cutouts at Crisler Center, game day playlists, Crisler scoreboard messages, special theme games, and more. » Hail from Home

Who are the Wisconsin Badgers?

• A veteran-laden team, Wisconsin (15-6, 9-5 B1G) hosts the Wolverines in Madison on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14). It will be the second meeting of the season after U-M won, 77-54, at Crisler on Jan. 12.
• The Badgers are led by four double-digit scoring seniors -- redshirt senior guard D'Mitrick Trice (13.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 39 three-pointers), redshirt senior forward Micah Potter (11.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), senior forward Nate Reuvers (9.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 bpg) and senior guard Brad Davison (8.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 38 three-pointers).
• Rounding out the top five for Wisconsin is another redshirt senior, Aleem Ford, who is averaging 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and is third with 30 three-pointers.

The Series with Wisconsin

• Michigan leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 96-73. U-M has a 35-46 record in Madison, winning two of its last five after an 11-game losing skid at the Kohl Center.
• Michigan had nine games (7-2) vacated due to NCAA sanctions -- giving U-M an NCAA-recognized 89-71 all-time record. Additionally, the NCAA granted U-M three victories (originally all losses) after Wisconsin forfeited three games due to the use of an ineligible player in 1982 (L, 65-63), '83 (L, 82-70) and '84 (L, 71-64).
• There have been seven games when both teams were ranked among the nation's top 25, with U-M leading, 5-2. The last of these games was last month (Jan. 12), when No. 7 Michigan defeated No. 9 Wisconsin, 77-54, at Crisler Center.
• There have been 30 games decided by three points or fewer points, with U-M ahead, 16-14. The last thriller was Feb. 9, 2013, when Wisconsin made a dramatic half-court basket to force overtime in Madison. In OT, the Badgers went on to win, 65-62.
• There have been seven overtime games, with U-M leading, 4-3, in those conrests. The last overtime game was Jan. 24, 2015, when No. 6 Wisconsin beat U-M, 69-64, at Crisler Center.
• Longest U-M win streak: 9 games (March 1, 1984 to Feb. 11, 1998)
• Longest U-M losing streak: 10 games (Feb. 24, 2007 to Feb. 23, 2011)
• Largest U-M victory: 44 points (103-59) at Wisconsin on Feb. 22, 1964
• Largest U-M loss: 31 points (73-42) at Wisconsin on Feb. 26, 2003
• U-M's total 10-plus point victories: 46 | U-M's total 10-plus point losses: 37
• U-M's average winning margin: 11.3 points (96 wins) | U-M's average losing margin: 10.1 points (73 losses)
• U-M's highest point total: 120 (W, 120-102; Feb. 12, 1966 in Ann Arbor) | Wisconsin's highest point total: 102 (L, 120-102; Feb. 12, 1966 in Ann Arbor)
• U-M's total series points: 10,334 (61.1 per game) | Wisconsin's total series points: 10,033 (59.4 per game)

Earlier This Season: No. 7 Michigan defeats No. 9 Wisconsin, 77-54, at Crisler Center

• Playing its third straight ranked opponent, No. 7 Michigan used a 43-6 run and held No. 9 Wisconsin to just three points during the first seven minutes of the second half to go on to a 77-54 victory and stay undefeated (11-0, 6-0 B1G).
• Franz Wagner posted his second double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He added a career-best four steals and closed 7-for-10 from the field.
• Mike Smith led the Wolverines with 16 points, adding six assists (fifth straight game) and two rebounds. Isaiah Livers posted 13 points with six rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Hunter Dickinson used 12 points to post his 11th straight double-figure scoring game as well as adding six rebounds, three blocks and a steal.
• Austin Davis returned after a five-game absence due to injury (plantar fascia injury in right foot) playing 12 minutes and posting four points and four rebounds.
• Michigan tied a season-high with nine blocked shots.

Perfect Material for the Broadcast

• A five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Hunter Dickinson leads U-M in scoring (15.1 points) and rebounding (7.2 per game). With the national minimum of 5.0 field goals made, Dickinson leads the Big Ten and is fourth nationally with his 68.8 percent (86-for-125) field goal percentage. He trails Grand Canyon's Asbjorn Midtgaard (74.4 percent; 90-for-121; 15 games), Ohio's Dwight Wilson (69.3 percent; 115-for-166; 17G) and Rice's Max Fielder (68.9 percent; 91-for-132; 18G).
• Isaiah Livers is Michigan's second-leading scorer with 14.6 points per game. He is averaging career-bests in rebounding (6.0) and assists (2.4; 33 total). Livers has three assists ior more n five of his last six games, while grabbing five boards or more in all six of those contests -- including a career-high-tying 10 at Purdue (Jan. 22).
• Chaundee Brown Jr. needs just one point to reach 1,000 in his collegiate career. In three seasons at Wake Forest, he scored 876 points (10.4 ppg). With U-M, he is averaging 8.8 points per game (T-4th).
• Mike Smith leads the Big Ten with 5.6 assists per game, which is 31st nationally. He leads the conference thanks in part to dishing six assists or more in seven of his last eight games, which included a career-best 10 at Minnesota -- the first double-digit performance of his collegiate career.

Michigan's Pause

• On Saturday, Jan. 23, Michigan Athletics followed a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommendation to pause athletic activities in all sports, including games, team and individual training sessions due to a positive test for a COVID-19 variant.
• The 14-day stoppage caused U-M to postpone four regular-season Big Ten games -- at Penn State (Jan. 27), versus Indiana (Jan. 30), at Northwestern (Feb. 3) and versus Michigan State (Feb. 6).
• With U-M's return-to-play planning, the Wolverines also postponed their game with Illinois (Feb. 11). U-M is expected to return at Wisconsin (Feb. 14).
• Michigan and its opponents in the postponed games have begun working with the Big Ten to identify options for rescheduling opportunities.

Michigan Fast Facts

• Michigan leads the Big Ten, shooting 50.9 percent from the field, which is seventh nationally.
• U-M has shot 50 percent or higher from the field in nine games; six have come in Big Ten play.
• The Wolverine are holding opponents to 37.4 percent shooting, which leads the Big Ten (fourth nationally).
• Michigan has 80 points or more in 10 games. U-M had 10 all of last season.
• The Wolverines average 79.6 points per game, trailing Iowa (87.8) and Illinois (81.8) in the Big Ten.
• U-M allows 65.4 points per game, which is second in the Big Ten (Wisconsin, 63.1).
• Michigan leads the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (76.8), which is 24th nationally.
• The Wolverines have pulled down 40 rebounds or more in eight games. U-M had eight all of last season.
• Michigan allows 31.1 rebounds per game, third in the Big Ten.
• Michigan's 8.50 rebounding margin is second in the Big Ten (Illinois, +10.7).
• U-M has 20 assists or more in five games. U-M had four all of last season.
• Michigan has collected 40 points or more in the paint in seven games. The Wolverines had seven all of last season.
• U-M is the only Big Ten team to allow fewer than 100 three-pointers (99).
• Michigan opponents are shooting 32.2% from long range; sixth in Big Ten.