The IU men's basketball team could repeat what it did last year in winning its first Big Ten game of the season at home against Michigan. The difference this time is that the Hoosiers are already four games deep into the conference slate.
After giving up a season-high 93 points in its latest loss at Northwestern, IU's (9-8, 0-4) defense could be getting a break against Michigan (11-6, 1-3) in an 8 p.m. tipoff Saturday in Assembly Hall. The Wolverines rank 10th in the Big Ten scoring offense, ninth in field goal percentage and are tied with IU at eighth in turnover margin.
History
IU has split its previous four contests with Michigan, winning one both at home and away. The Hoosiers dropped their last date with the Wolverines 69-45. IU leads the all-time series 99-54.
Player to watch - IU: Victor Oladipo, freshman guard
If there's one stage on which Oladipo loves to take the center spot, it's in front of a packed Assembly Hall full of rabid students. That's what he will get for the first time in his collegiate career Saturday, but with the team on a six-game losing streak, he and the Hoosiers will have to give the students a reason to be electric. Following the Northwestern game, IU coach Tom Crean acknowledged that he can't afford to not have Oladipo and fellow freshman Will Sheehey on the floor. Oladipo is on a five-game double-digit scoring streak - which is not coincidentally the number of consecutive games he has played 20 or more minutes.
Player to watch - Michigan: Zack Novak, junior forward
If it seems like the Hoosiers are playing against a 3-point threat in every game this Big Ten season, it's because they are. Novak represents that threat this weekend, and what's worse for IU is that he enters Saturday on a hot streak. He has hit 13 3-point shots in his last four games, including a 4-of-5 effort in a near upset of Ohio State. In IU's victory to open the Big Ten season last year, Novak was 4-of-9 from deep and scored 18 points. He isn't unstoppable, though, as the Hoosiers held him without a 3-pointer and only six points in the teams' last meeting.
Numbers game - 27
The difference between junior guard Verdell Jones' turnovers and the player with the second-most giveaways, sophomore forward Christian Watford. Jones is dead even in assist/turnover ratio, though, as he also leads the team in helpers.
What they're saying - junior guard Verdell Jones on trying to maintain consistency
"We know what each one of us can do well and we have to keep that in mind and not try to go outside of what we do well. We can't try to make something happen if its not there or try to do things by ourselves."
