Wolverines Set for Midweek Battle with No. 16 Golden Gophers

» No. 10 Michigan faces No. 16 Minnesota in the first of two meetings over the next 10 days.
» Hunter Dickinson was named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Week for the fourth time in five weeks.
» Dickinson leads U-M in scoring (16.9), rebounding (8.1) and blocks (1.2)
» U-M is playing the third game of a five-game stretch over a span of 12 days. So far, U-M is 2-0 with wins at Maryland (84-73, Dec. 31) and No. 19 Northwestern (85-66, Jan. 3).
» Mike Smith is 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) from the 3-point line over his last five games.

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The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team (9-0, 4-0 Big Ten) looks to continue its hot streak when it hosts No. 16 Minnesota (10-2, 3-2 Big Ten) on Wednesday night (Jan. 6) at Crisler Center. The game is scheduled for an 8:37 p.m. tipoff on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) 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

Virtual Maize Out vs. MSU

Even though fans can't be at Crisler Center this season, we still want to keep our annual MAIZE OUT tradition alive! Join us as we go for a virtual Maize Out vs. Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 6. With four ticket pack options left that include a virtual seat, commemorative ticket and vinyl sticker, everyone who purchases a virtual ticket will be automatically entered into a contest to win a pair of 2021-22 season tickets. Ticket packs also feature items and experiences ranging from an exclusive Maize Out T-shirt to Coach Howard autographed items and 2021-22 season experiences. » Details

Who are the Minnesota Golden Gophers?

• No. 16 Minnesota (10-2, 3-2 Big Ten) comes to Ann Arbor for the first of two matchups over the span of 10 days. After Wednesday's game, the Wolverines will head to Minneapolis on Jan. 16.
• Minnesota is a perfect 10-0 in home contests at Williams Arena and have lost both of its road games at Illinois (92-65) and at Wisconsin (71-59).
• The Gophers split their games last week, dropping a 71-56 decision at No. 6 Wisconsin before rebounding with a 77-60 home win over No. 25 Ohio State.
• Minnesota has brought in three transfers to help bolster its starting five -- 7-foot junior center Liam Robbins (Drake; 14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 6-foot-6 junior guard Both Gach (Utah; 11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and 6-foot-8 forward graduate transfer Brandon Johnson (Western Michigan; 8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg).
• The Gophers are once again led by Marcus Carr, who is averaging 22.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He has drained 28 three-pointers and has made 92 trips to the free throw line.
• Minnesota averages 81.6 points per game with 39.8 rebounds. They are shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from long distance. Just about 41 percent of the Gophers offense comes via the long-range shot.

The Series with Minnesota

• Wednesday's game will be the 164th all-time meeting between U-M and Minnesota. Michigan leads, 96-67, in the all-time series against the Gophers. The Wolverines hold a 57-20 record in Ann Arbor, winning the last six meetings at Crisler Center.
• Michigan has 10 games (6-4) vacated due to NCAA Sanctions, giving U-M an adjusted 90-63 all-time record in its series against Minnesota.
• There have been 14 games in the all-time series when both Michigan and Minnesota were ranked among the nation's top 25 with the Wolverines leading, 10-4. The last meeting was Jan. 17, 2013, when No. 5 Michigan claimed an 83-75 decision over No. 9 Minnesota at Williams Arena.
• There have been 29 games decided by three points or fewer as U-M leads, 20-9, in those contests. The last time a game was decided by three points or fewer came on Jan. 22, 2019, when a Charles Matthews baseline jumper off an Ignas Brazdeikis missed layup helped U-M to a 59-57 victory.
• There have been seven overtime games in the all-time series, with U-M leading, 6-1. The last overtime game was Feb. 3, 2018, when the Wolverines held off a Gopher second-half rally to win 76-73 in the extra period at Crisler Center.
• Longest U-M win streak: Nine games (Feb. 26, 2011-Feb, 10, 2016)
• Longest U-M losing streak: Six games (two times)
• Largest U-M Victory: 41 points (97-56) at Michigan on Jan. 17, 1985
• Largest U-M Loss: 39 points (49-10) at Minnesota on Feb. 16, 1918
• U-M Victories by 10+ Points: 46 | U-M Losses by 10+ Points: 31
• U-M's average margin in wins: 10.5 points | U-M's average margin in losses: 10.3 points
• U-M's most points: 113 (Feb. 5, 1968) | Minnesota's most points: 102 (March 5, 1962)
• U-M's Total Points: 10,362 (63.6 per game) | Minnesota's Total Points: 10,042 (61.6 per game)

Perfect Material for the Broadcast

• U-M is in the middle of a five-game stretch over a 12-day period. So far, the Wolverines are 2-0 with wins at Maryland (84-73, Dec. 31) and Northwestern (85-66, Jan. 3).
• Michigan's nine-game win streak has topped Juwan Howard's prior best of seven set at the start of last season. The Wolverines rattled off seven victories, winning the Battle 4 Atlantis and vaulting to No. 4 in the nation before falling at No. 1 Louisville (ACC/B1G Challenge).
• Michigan's men's (9-0) and women's (7-0) basketball teams represent the only remaining Division I programs with undefeated hoops squads.
• On Monday (Jan. 4), Hunter Dickinson was named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season. Last week, he averaged 22.5 points, seven rebounds and shot 78.3 percent from the field. He opened the week with a career-best 26 points and 11 rebounds at Maryland (Dec. 25) for his third double-double and followed with 19 points (15 in the second half), three rebounds and a block against Northwestern (Jan. 3).
• Dickinson leads U-M in scoring (16.9), rebounding (8.1), blocks (1.2) and field-goal percentage (71.8 percent). He has scored in double figures in all nine games this season.
• Dickinson's 71.8 shooting percentage leads the Big Ten and is sixth nationally. He has eight games of five baskets or more, including a career-best 10 at Maryland.
• Over his last three games, Franz Wagner has been dominant on both ends of the floor, posting three straight double-figure scoring games, including a season-best 20 at Nebraska (Dec. 25). He added just his second career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Northwestern (Jan. 3) and added a career-high five assists and five blocks against the Wildcats. During this stretch, he has averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assist, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals while shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
• Mike Smith is 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) from the three-point line over his last five games. Prior to that stretch, he was just 1-for-9 from long range (four games).
• Smith has had three assists or more in all nine games, including six assists in each of the last three games, and leads U-M with 47 (5.2 per game). With Eli Brooks' 35 (3.8 apg), the duo has combined for 82 of U-M's 163 total assists (50.3 percent)
• The Wolverines are shooting a Big Ten-best 77.6 percent from the free-throw line (21st nationally). U-M has seven players shooting above 75 percent from the charity stripe.
• Over the last two seasons, Isaiah Livers has missed only three free throws, going 66-for-69 (95.6 percent). This season, he is at 95.7 percent (22-for-23), second in Big Ten and 10th nationally.
• U-M has scored 80 points or more in eight games and is averaging 82.6 per game (35th nationally).
• U-M is shooting 52.0 percent from the field -- ninth nationally (2nd in Big Ten).

What a Week for Wagner

• With 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 blocks, 2.5 steals and shooting 50 percent (12-for-24) from the field last week, Franz Wagner was dominant on both ends of the floor in wins over Maryland (Dec. 31) and No. 19 Northwestern (Jan. 3).
• Opening the week at the Terrapins, Wagner scored 19 points, knocking down a trio of three-pointers while adding four assists, three steals, two rebounds and going 8-for-14 from the field.
• Wagner followed with a 14-point, 10-rebound effort against Northwestern to record just his second career double-double. However, it was his career-best five assists, career-best five blocks and two steals that really raised eyebrows.
• Wagner became the first Wolverine to block five shots in a game this season when he swatted five Northwestern attempts on Sunday (Jan. 3). The last time it happened was Feb. 21, 2019, when Jon Teske had five at Minnesota.
• Wagner's five three-pointers in two games doubled his season output.

A Little Bit from the Stat Sheets

• Michigan is averaging 82.6 points per game after posting 80 points or more in eight games, including two 90-plus point games and a season-high 96 against Bowling Green (Nov. 25).
• U-M has six games of 40 rebounds or more and average 39.9 per game, out-rebounding its opponents by 10 which is 15th nationally and second in the Big Ten.
• U-M has six games with 40 points or more in the paint with five games of 42 and a season-high 48 against Toledo. U-M is +14.6 so far against its opponents down low.
• Michigan has four games with 20 assists or more -- Bowling Green (23), Oakland (24), Toledo (20) and Northwestern (22) -- averaging 18.1 per game. Last season, U-M finished the season with four total 20-plus assist games and had five in 2018-19.
• The Maize and Blue has three players averaging in double figures -- Hunter Dickinson (16.9), Isaiah Livers (13.9) and Franz Wagner (12.2). Just below the double digit mark are Eli Brooks (9.9), Chaundee Brown Jr. (9.7) and Mike Smith (8.7).
• Hunter Dickinson leads the team with 8.1 rebounds, while Franz Wagner is second at 7.0 per game. The duo represents the only Wolverines to hit for double figures in rebounds -- Wagner had 13 (Oakland) and Dickinson has had 11 twice (vs. Ball State, at Maryland) and a career-high 15 (at Nebraska) -- all of which led to double-doubles.
• Isaiah Livers leads U-M with 19 three-pointers, while Chaundee Brown Jr. has 15 and Eli Brooks has 15.
• Franz Wagner leads U-M with 10 steals with Eli Brooks right behind with nine.