Indiana Hoosiers at #12 Michigan Wolverines
Crisler Center – Ann Arbor, Washington
Saturday, March 8, 2014, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Michigan -10 1/2
Current Line: Michigan -9 1/2
Opening Total: 138 1/2
Current Total: 137
Opening Money Line: Michigan -625 / Indiana +465
Current Money Line: Michigan -550 / Indiana +445
The 22-7 Michigan Wolverines have already wrapped up the outright regular season Big Ten title with a 14-3 record. The Wolverines will be the #1 seed in next week’s Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. Michigan will close out the regular season Saturday at home against the 17-13 Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana is 7-10 in conference and tied for 7th with Minnesota. Unless they win the Big ten tournament, the Hoosiers are likely headed to the NIT.
Indiana leads the series against Michigan 104-56, but the Wolverines are 43-37 in Ann Arbor against the Hoosiers. Indiana has won 3 straight games against Michigan including 63-52 in Bloomington February 2. Last year in the regular season finale, the Hoosiers came into Ann Arbor and grabbed a one point win to secure the Big Ten regular season title.
Indiana is coached Tom Crean. The Hoosiers have losses to Connecticut in a tournament in New York City, at Syracuse, Notre Dame in Indianapolis, at Illinois, Michigan State twice, Northwestern, Nebraska twice (including 70-60 Wednesday in Bloomington), at Minnesota, Penn State, at Purdue and at Wisconsin. Indiana has key wins over Washington at Madison Square Garden, Evansville, Oakland, at Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, at Northwestern Iowa and Ohio State. Indiana is 14-14-1 ATS and the total is 12-17 this season.
Indiana is outscoring teams 73-67 this season. The Hoosiers are shooting 44.6% from the field and 34.5% from 3 point range. Indiana makes 72.5% from the free throw line. Hoosier opponents are shooting 41.1% from the field and 29.8% from 3 point range. Indiana #19 nationally in three point defense. The Hoosiers are #19 nationally in rebounding averaging 39.4 per game and #38 in rebounds allowed at 28.1 per game. Indiana averages 10.4 assists, 14.4 turnovers, 5.6 steals and 3.5 blocks per game. Opponents average 10.1 assists, 11.6 turnovers, 7.2 steals and 4.9 blocks per game.
Guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell averages 17.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Forward Noah Vonleh averages 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.3 blocks per game. He is questionable Saturday with a foot injury after missing the last two games. Forward Will Sheehey averages 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Forward Jeremy Hollowell averages 6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1 assists per game. Forward Troy Williams averages 6.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1 steal per game. Guard Evan Gordon averages 5.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. Stanford Robinson, Hanner Mosquera-Perea, Luke Fischer, Devin Davis and Austin Etherington will also get time in the rotation.
Michigan is coached by John Beilein. The Wolverines have losses at Iowa State, to Charlotte in a tournament in Puerto Rico, at Duke, at Arizona, at Indiana, at Iowa, and at home against Wisconsin. The Wolverines have key wins over Long Beach State and Florida State in Puerto Rico, Stanford in Brooklyn, Minnesota twice, Northwestern, Nebraska twice, Penn State, at Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State twice, Purdue twice, at Ohio State and at Illinois 84-53 Tuesday. Michigan has won 4 straight games. Michigan is 15-11-1 ATS and the total is 15-11-1 this season.
Michigan is outscoring teams 75-65 this season. The Wolverines are #50 nationally in points allowed. Michigan is shooting 48% from the field and 40% from 3 point range. The Wolverines are #22 in field goal percentage and #6 in three point shooting. Michigan is #13 in free throw shooting at 75.6% from the line. Wolverine opponents are shooting. 43.7% from the field and 32.3% from 3 point range. Michigan averages 32.5 rebounds per game and allow 29 from opponents. The Wolverines average 13.8 assists, 9.7 turnovers, 4.5 steals and 2.2 block per game. Opponents average 11.6 assists, 10.1 turnovers, 5.2 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.
Guard Nik Stauskas averages 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Forward Glenn Robinson III averages 13 points, 4.4 points, 1.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Caris LeVert averages 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Mitch McGary averages 9.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He is out indefinitely with a back injury. Guard Derrick Walton, Jr. averages 8.3 points, 3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Zak Irvin, Jordan Morgan, Jon Horford, and Spike Albrecht will also get plenty of time in the rotation. Morgan is probable with a back injury. Little used guard Cole McConnell is questionable with a foot injury.
Indiana is 6-2 ATS after a straight up loss, 5-2-1 after failing to cover, 2-5-1 after a double digit home loss, 2-8 in Saturday games, 1-4 in road games and against teams with winning home records. The Hoosiers are 19-6-1 ATS in the last 26 games against the Wolverines, including 8-3 in Ann Arbor.
Michigan is 7-0 ATS against teams with losing road records, 4-1-1 in Saturday games, 7-2-1 at home, 2-5 after a straight up win, 1-4 after a cover, and 1-6 after a straight up win of more than 20 points. The under is 9-3 in this series recently in Ann Arbor. The home team has covered 7 of the last 10 times in this series.
Indiana has been way too inconsistent, and will likely miss the NCAA tournament because of it. The hoosiers have victories over Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio St, but have losses to Nebraska, Purdue, Penn State and Northwestern. This game is pretty much meaningless for the Wolverines, but it is senior night, so I think the Wolverines will give a good effort. I like the Wolverines to pull away late in a close game.
