Thursday night in CBB will see the Michigan Wolverines travel to Bloomington, Indiana to take on the Indiana Hoosiers. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 pm tipoff and will be televised live on ESPN2. Currently Indiana is favored by 7.5 points with the total being set at 140 for this game. After taking down Nos. 1 and 2 last month, upstart Indiana will try to defeat yet another ranked opponent when it meets No. 13 Michigan Thursday at Assembly Hall.
Free Analysis: The 12th-ranked Hoosiers defeated both Kentucky and Ohio State becoming just the second Big Ten school ever to knock off the top two seeds in the same season. The Hoosiers are 10- at home this year with 8 of those wins have coming by 15 points or more, while overall they are outscoring opponents by 20.7 ppg. After this game, the Hoosiers will play six of their next nine on the road, including three against teams currently ranked in the top 20. Consistency at the offensive end is what has fueled Indiana's success thus far. The team is averaging a healthy 82.6 ppg on the year, ranking sixth nationally in field-goal percentage (.502) and second in three-point accuracy (.447). Freshman Cody Zeller has made an immediate impact, leading the team in scoring (14.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg). Fellow forward Christian Watford is next in line in both categories (12.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Scoring depth is found in the form of Victor Oladipo (12.2 ppg), Jordan Hulls (11.9 ppg) and Will Sheehey (10.7 ppg). Sheehey is listed as questionable for this game. Defense has also been a big part of this teams success as they have allowed just 61.9 ppg on 40.2% shooting and both numbers are within the top 78 in the country. This will be a good game, but a tough matchup for Michigan (12-2) as they've struggled mightily at Assembly Hall in the history of this rivalry. Michigan has lost the last two meetings in Bloomington including an 80-61 defeat last year, and a 71-65 loss on New Year's Eve two years ago and they have actually lost 13 of the last 14 meetings in Assembly Hall. Since the November 29th setback to the Cavaliers, Michigan has reeled off seven straight wins, including knocking off Penn State (71-53) and Minnesota (61-56) to begin Big Ten play. Michigan is at its best when it is forcing the tempo at the defensive end. The Wolverines are allowing just 59.9 ppg on the year, while holding foes to an even 40 percent shooting. Hardaway leads the way at the offensive end, with 15.9 ppg, while Burke isn't far behind (14.0 ppg) and he also serves as the team's primary distributor (5.0 apg). Evan Smotrycz (10.9 ppg) rounds out the top scoring threats and leads the way on the boards (7.1 rpg). Michigan is averaging 70.9 ppg on 48.1% shooting, which is 34th in the nation.The Hoosiers hold a sizeable 100-55 advantage in the all-time series with Michigan. The two teams split a pair of meetings a year ago, each winning on its home floor.
Free Pick: Im gonna look to the over in this game. The Hoosiers come ranked 6th in scoring (82.6 ppg), 5th in shooting (50.2%) and 2nd in three point shooting (44.75), plus they also hit their FT's as a 73.3% (48th) clip.Michigan has been good on offense as well as they have put up 70.9 ppg (131st), while Shooting 48.1% overall (34th) and 36.6% from long range (89th). Michigan hasn't been great from the charity stripe, but still a respectable 68.7%. Michigan has played great defense this year, but they haven't played many good offenses and when they did they allowed 81 ppg to Duke and Oakland, so this team can be scored on by good scoring teams and Indiana is a good scoring team. The hoosiers have played very good defense this year as well, but in their 2 Big 10 games so far they have allowed 75 ppg. Both of these offense will score on a couple of defenses that have some misleading numbers. Look for around 150 points in this one.