Time is right for Wolverines to take their shot at Spartans

Posted January 11, 2018 6:00 am

By ERIC OLSON

Michigan forward Isaiah Livers (4) defends Purdue guard Carsen Edwards during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Purdue won 70-69. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

A look at the upcoming week around the Big Ten Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEKEND: Michigan at No. 4 Michigan State, Saturday. The Wolverines (14-4, 3-2 Big Ten) are plenty motivated after their 1-point home loss to Purdue on Tuesday. The Spartans (16-2, 4-1) are in a lull after losing to Ohio State on Sunday and needing overtime to beat Rutgers at home on Wednesday. Michigan had lost five straight to the Spartans before winning by 29 points in their last meeting, and MSU looks vulnerable even though it's 11-0 at home.

LOOKING AHEAD: Nebraska (12-6) has an opportunity to break out of a pack of four teams tied for fourth place at 3-2. The Cornhuskers visit eighth-place Penn State on Friday and host 13th-place Illinois on Monday. Maryland (14-4), one of the teams tied for fourth, faces a pivotal stretch with back-to-back road games against Ohio State and Michigan and a home game against Minnesota.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Indiana junior forward Juwan Morgan has blossomed as a scorer after being known more as a gritty bench player the past couple years. After averaging 7.7 points in 2016-17, the 6-foot-8, 230-pounder is scoring 16 points a game. He still shows plenty of toughness. He leads the team with 7.5 rebounds and 26 blocks. He's only getting better now that Big Ten play has started, with five double-doubles in the last nine games and a 19.7-point scoring average in conference play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Miles Bridges and Joshua Langford combined for 2 points in the first half of Michigan State's overtime win over Rutgers but had 21 of their team's 31 points the rest of the way. ... Ohio State's Keita Bates-Diop averaged 29.5 points and 10 rebounds in wins at Iowa and at home against Michigan State. ... Maryland has outrebounded 14 of its 17 opponents, averaging 39.5 per game. ... Michigan freshman Isaiah Livers, averaging 4.4 points off the bench, has been in double figures three straight games. ... Northwestern's Bryant McIntosh broke the school record with 16 assists in a 23-point win over Minnesota on Wednesday.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE: No. 11 Maryland (15-2, 4-0) is the only team in the country with seven players averaging in double figures: Kaila Charles (17.6), Blair Watson (13.8), Ieshia Small (12.1), Stephanie Jones (11.6), Eleanna Christinaki (11.4), Kristen Confroy (10.5) and Brianna Fraser (10.3). The Terrapins have won 13 straight and are fourth nationally in scoring margin (plus-26.7) and sixth in scoring (87 ppg). They went into their home game against Michigan State on Thursday with a 62-3 record in Big Ten play since joining the league.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25

Indiana's Juwan Morgan goes to the basket against Penn State's Julian Moore during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana won 74-70. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The Associated Press

Michigan forward Moritz Wagner reacts after the team's NCAA college basketball game against Purdue at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Wagner was called for a foul in the final seconds to allow Purdue a free throw and win 70-69. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

Nebraska guard James Palmer Jr. (24) drives to the basket against Wisconsin forwards Khalil Iverson (21) and Ethan Happ, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 in Lincoln, Neb. (Francis Gardler/The Journal-Star via AP) The Associated Press

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