Wolverines to Host Rutgers in Annual Pink Game at Crisler Center

Thursday, February 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

9:00 PM

Michigan

Rutgers

Franz Wagner (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines to Host Rutgers in Annual Pink Game at Crisler Center

2/17/2021 8:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Tom Wywrot

» No. 3 Michigan returns homes to host Rutgers in the only regular season meeting of the season.
» Isaiah Livers has scored 20 points or more in his last three games and now leads U-M with 15.0 points per game.
» Hunter Dickinson earned his sixth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after posting his fourth double-double (11 points, 15 rebounds) with a career-best five blocks in U-M's road win at No. 21 Wisconsin.
» Thursday night's game is U-M's annual "Pink" game as the Wolverines honor those who have battled cancer. U-M is expected to wear special pink Jordan brand shoes.

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The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team (14-1, 9-1 Big Ten) square off against Rutgers (12-7, 8-7 Big Ten) in the only regular season meeting between the teams on Thursday (Feb. 18) at Crisler Center. The game is scheduled for a 9:01 p.m. tipoff on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and Nick Bahe (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 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Badgers?

• In the only regular-season matchup between the Wolverines and Scarlet Knights, Rutgers (12-7, 8-7 B1G) comes into Crisler Center having won five of its last six games.
• The Scarlet Knights are 3-4 on the road this season with wins at Maryland (74-60; Dec. 14), at Indiana (74-70; Jan. 24) and at Northwestern (64-56; Jan. 31).
• Rutgers is averaging 71.8 points, 36.3 rebounds and a Big Ten-best 8.2 steals per game. One Achilles' heel has been free-throw shooting; the Scarlet Knights are last in the Big Ten at 61.6 percent.
• Rutgers is led by junior guard Ron Harper Jr., who leads the team with 16.2 points per game, while adding 6.1 rebounds and a team-best 33 three-pointers. Senior guard Jacob Young is posting 14.1 points, 3.5 assists and a conference-best 34 steals (1.8). Senior guard Geo Baker gives Rutgers three averaging in double figures with his 10.1 points, while junior guard Montez Mathis is just below double digits at 9.6 per game.
• Junior center Myles Johnson is averaging 8.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He has added six double-doubles and is shooting 66.7 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Paul Mulcahy comes off the bench for 5.9 points and 3.2 assists (2nd on Rutgers).

The Series with Rutgers

• Michigan leads, 13-0, in the all-time series with Rutgers. U-M holds a 4-0 record in Ann Arbor, following a 62-47 victory at Crisler Center on Jan. 21, 2018, in the last home meeting.
• Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2015, U-M has an 8-0 record against the Scarlet Knights.
• There has been one game when both teams were ranked among the nation's top 25, with U-M leading, 1-0. En route to the 1976 national title game, No. 9 U-M defeated No. 4 Rutgers, 86-70, at the Final Four played in Philadelphia.
• There have been no games in the series decided by three points or fewer.
• There have been no overtime games in the all-time series.
• Longest U-M win streak: 13 games (Dec. 20, 1933 to Feb. 19, 2020).
• Longest U-M losing streak: none
• Largest U-M victory: 28 points (97-69) at Rutgers on Dec. 21, 1983
• Largest U-M loss: none
• U-M victories by 10+ points: 8 | U-M losses by 10+ points: none
• U-M's average winning margin: 11.3 points (13 wins) | U-M's average losing margin: none
• U-M's highest point total: 97 (Dec. 21, 1983; W, 97-69 in Piscataway) | Rutgers' highest point total: 77 (Dec. 22, 1984; W, 93-77 in Ann Arbor)
• U-M's total series points: 907 (69.8 per game) | Rutgers total series points: 760 (58.5 per game)

Perfect Material for the Broadcast

• With three straight games with 20 points or more, Isaiah Livers has taken over the scoring lead for the Wolverines at 15.0 points per game. During this stretch he has shot 52.6 percent (20-for-38) from the field, 64.7 percent (11-for-17) on three-pointers and 84.6 percent (11-for-13) on free throws. He has averaged 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists during the three games.
• Overall, Livers has a team-best five games of 20 points or more and needs 89 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
• In addition to his scoring, Livers is averaging career-bests in rebounding (6.1) and assists (2.2; 33 total). He also has three assists or more in five of his last seven games, while grabbing five boards or more in all seven of those contests -- including a career-high-tying 10 at Purdue (Jan. 22).
• Making a free throw with 25 seconds left at Wisconsin -- his only points of the game -- Chaundee Brown Jr. reached 1,000 in his collegiate career. In three seasons at Wake Forest he scored 876 points (10.4 ppg). With U-M, he has 124 points to average 8.3 per game.
• Mike Smith continues to lead the Big Ten at 5.6 assists per game, which is 25th nationally. He has dished six assists or more in eight of his last nine games, which included a career-best 10 at Minnesota -- the first double-digit performance of his collegiate career.
• It is buried in the stats, but Smith leads the Wolverines shooting 48.6 percent (17-for35) from long range. After starting 1-for-9 to begin his U-M career, he has gone 16-for-26 (61.5 percent) since. He has made at least one three-pointer in 10 of his last 11 games.
• Becoming the first Wolverine to post 10+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ blocks since 2004 -- Courtney Sims vs. Purdue (Feb. 7, 2004; 11 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks) -- Hunter Dickinson picked up his sixth Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade after he recorded his fourth double-double with 11 points and a career-best-tying 15 rebounds while adding a career-best five blocks at Wisconsin (Feb. 14).
• Dickinson is second on U-M in scoring (14.9), but leads in rebounding (7.3), field-goal percentage (.664) and blocks (1.7). With the national minimum of 5.0 field goals made, Dickinson is second in the Big Ten and fourth nationally with his field-goal percentage.