U-M to Open B1G Slate Sunday vs. Penn State

» Michigan opens its Big Ten season hosting Penn State at Crisler Center.
» Sunday's game will be the third time the Wolverines have opened the conference slate against the Nittany Lions.
» U-M holds a 36-14 record in the all-time series against PSU, including a 21-3 record in Ann Arbor.
» U-M went a perfect 5-0 in its non-conference schedule.
» Michigan averages 86.4 points per game.

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After a perfect 5-0 start in non-conference play, the University of Michigan men's basketball team will open the Big Ten portion of its schedule when it hosts Penn State on Sunday (Dec. 13) at Crisler Center. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tipoff on Big Ten Network with Brandon Gaudin (p-by-p) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) as the broadcast crew.

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 Penn State Nittany Lions?

• Fresh off a 75-55 road win at Virginia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Penn State comes to Ann Arbor with a 3-1 overall record. The Nittany Lions season-opener against Drexel was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
• PSU averages 81.2 points per game paced by four NIttany Lions who average double-digit points -- sophomore forward Seth Lundy (16.8), junior guard Izaiah Brockington (14.0), junior guard Sam Sessoms (12.3) and junior guard Myreon Jones (12.3).
• Penn State is shooting 44.9 percent from the field, including 45 percent from beyond the arc. Five different players have made five three-pointers or more this season, led by junior guard Myles Dread's team-best 10.
• Senior forward John Harrar is averaging 7.3 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game. Overall, PSU is grabbing 36.8 rebounds per game as a team.
• Penn State is led by interim coach Jim Ferrry, who is in his fourth season with the Nittany Lions. He replaced Patrick Chambers, who was relieved of his duties this summer.

The Series with Penn State

• Sunday's game will be the 51st all-time meeting between Michigan and Penn State.
• U-M leads, 36-14, in the all-time series against Penn State. PSU has won the last two games in the series after a U-M eight-game win streak.
• Michigan had nine games (6-3) against Penn State vacated by the Wolverines due to NCAA Sanctions -- giving U-M a recognized 30-11 all-time record.
• U-M holds a 21-3 record in Ann Arbor. PSU snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Wolverines with a 72-63 win on Jan. 22, 2020.
• There have been six games decided by three points or fewer with U-M leading, 4-2. The last time was a three-point U-M win (72-69) at Crisler Center on Jan. 4, 2017.
• There has been only one overtime game in the all-time series. U-M won, 89-87, overtime win at Crisler Center on Feb. 19, 2000.
• Longest U-M win streak: 11 games (Jan, 2, 2002 to Feb. 9, 2008).
• Longest U-M losing streak: three games (March 9, 2000 to March 8, 2001)
• Largest U-M Victory: 23 points -- at U-M (79-56) on Jan. 2, 2016, and at U-M (76-53) on Feb. 18, 2004
• Largest U-M Loss: 18 points (70-52) at Penn State on Jan. 2, 1999
• U-M Victories by 10+ Points: 17 | U-M Losses by 10+ Points: 6
• U-M's average margin in wins: 10.9 points | U-M's average margin in losses: 8.4 points
• All-Time U-M Points: 3,494 (69.9) | All-Time Penn State Points: 3,219 (64.4)

Big Ten Openers

• Michigan is opening its 104th season of Big Ten play and is 59-44 all-time in Big Ten openers.
• The Wolverines have played 56 Big Ten openers at home with a 35-20 record in those contests.
• In road openers, the Wolverines have played 48 times with a 24-24 record.
• U-M has played 10 of 13 Big Ten teams in its conference opener. The Maize and Blue has yet to open the conference slate against Maryland, Nebraska and Rutgers.
• U-M has played Northwestern (19 times; 15-4) and Indiana (18 times; 4-14) the most in Big Ten openers.

• Below is Michigan's record by opponent in Big Ten openers:

Illinois (8-4)
Indiana (4-14)
Iowa (7-3)
Michigan State (2-2)
Minnesota (6-2)
Northwestern (15-4)
Ohio State (3-6)
Penn State (2-0)
Purdue (6-4)
Wisconsin (6-5)

• Michigan is 4-4 in Big Ten-opening overtime games:

1/7/1935: Ohio State (L, 33-30 OT)
12/30/1944: Ohio State (L, 44-41 OT)
12/22/1945: Indiana (L, 67-58 OT)
1/4/1969: Iowa (W, 99-92 OT)
1/2/1975: at Illinois (W, 86-84 2OT)
1/9/1992: at Iowa (W, 80-77 OT)
12/30/2014: Illinois (W, 73-65 OT)
1/1/2017: at Iowa (L, 86-83 OT)

A Blistering Pace

• Michigan is shooting 52.6 percent (161-for-306) from the field, which is 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten.
• Michigan shot more than 54 percent in three of its five games this season, with a season best 57.6 percent against Toledo (Dec. 9).
• The Wolverines are led by big men Austin Davis (75.0 percent; 12-for-16) and Hunter Dickinson (70.7 percent; 29-for-41).
• U-M has six players shooting higher 50 percent through five games of the season: Davis, Dickinson, Brandon Johns Jr. (61.5 percent; 8-for-13), Isaiah Livers (56.6 percent; 30-for-53), Franz Wagner (51.4 percent; 18-for-35) and Chaundee Brown Jr. (51.1 percent; 23-for-45).

Statistics Class

• Michigan is averaging 86.4 points per game after posting 80 point or more in all five games this season, including two games eclipsing 90 points with a season-high 96 against Bowling Green (Nov. 25).
• U-M has posted 40 rebounds or more in four of its five games, and is averaging 41.8 per game. The Wolverines are out-rebounding their opponents by 11.4 per game, which is 26th nationally and third in the Big Ten.
• U-M has recorded 40 or more points in the paint in four of its five this season with three games at 42 and a season-high 48 against Toledo. U-M is +18.6 so far against its opponents down low.
• Michigan 20 assists or more in three games this season -- Bowling Green (23), Oakland (24) and Toledo (20) -- and is averaging 19.4 per game. Last season, U-M had four such games and five in 2018-19.
• The Maize and Blue has four double-figure scorers -- Isaiah Livers (16.2 ppg), Hunter Dickinson (14.8 ppg), Chaundee Brown Jr. (12.0 ppg) and Franz Wagner (10.2 ppg).
• Dickinson has scored in double figures in all five games with a career-best 19 against Oakland.
• Dickinson leads U-M with 7.4 rebounds, while Franz Wagner is close behind at 7.0 per game. They are the only Wolverines to hit for double figures -- Wagner 13 (Oakland) and Dickinson 11 (Ball State).
• Mike Smith (26; 5.2 apg) and Eli Brooks (20; 4.0 apg) account for 47.4 percent (46 of 97) of U-M assists.
• Isaiah Livers leads U-M with 13 three-pointers while Brown has 12.

Some Wolverine Quick Hitters

• Eli Brooks (Oakland, Nov. 29) and Isaiah Livers (Central Florida, Dec. 6) became the 73rd and 74th Wolverines, respectively, to play in 100 games at U-M.
• Mike Smith (97) needs three more games to reach 100 in his collegiate career. He also needs 308 points to reach the 2,000-point plateau and 81 assists to collect 500 for his career.
• Franz Wagner every game he has played in his career (32). It should be noted he missed the first four games of last season while recovering from a fractured wrist.
• Chaundee Brown Jr. needs 64 points to reach 1,000 in his collegiate career.
• Isaiah Livers needs 233 points to reach 1,000 in his U-M career.