Michigan @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 28, 2019 ) Nebraska 53, Michigan 82

Michigan looks to end its longest losing streak since 2015 when it visits Nebraska on Tuesday. The Wolverines have dropped four consecutive games, including a 64-62 setback to No. 19 Illinois on a buzzer-beater on Saturday, to tumble into the bottom half of the conference standings, and they aim to keep their fading NCAA Tournament hopes alive by recording their first true road win of the season.

“It’s a tough sport that at times will bring you to your knees, but it also will define your character,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard told reporters. “My job is to keep coaching them up and keep believing in this group and keep them connected.” Nebraska came up short in its upset bid of 25th-ranked Rutgers as the Cornhuskers dropped a 75-72 decision on Saturday to see their road losing streak reach seven games. The Cornhuskers have lost their last five games overall under first-year coach Fred Hoiberg, but three of the defeats have come by single digits, and they hope to take a step in the right direction by knocking off the Wolverines for the first time in over two years. “It was a good fight by our guys and I will take the effort,” Hoiberg told reporters. “If we continue to go out and battle like that, then we’re going to get over the hump pretty soon.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT MICHIGAN (11-8, 2-6 Big Ten): Zavier Simpson (12.8 points, Division I-best 8.3 assists), who led the team in scoring for the second straight game with 17 points against Illinois, will miss the clash against Nebraska after he was suspended on Monday for violating team rules. Franz Wagner added 12 points and eight rebounds, but the freshman from Germany, who is a 79.3 percent shooter from the free-throw line, missed a pair of attempts with 1:17 to go as the Wolverines finished 12-of-21 from the charity stripe. Isaiah Livers, who missed the previous six games, scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds before aggravating the groin injury that caused his absence, and his status is day-to-day going forward.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (7-13, 2-7): Cam Mack poured in 16 of his team-leading 19 points in the second half and dished out four assists, but it wasn’t enough as the Cornhuskers were outscored 9-0 over the final three-plus minutes in the loss to Rutgers. Thorir Thorbjarnarson knocked down five 3-pointers en route to 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds as Nebraska finished with 11 triples against the Scarlet Knights. Jervay Green added 11 points and five boards, while Haanif Cheatham tallied 10 points after being limited to two points in his previous game.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Michigan has won 12 of the last 13 meetings with Nebraska.

2. Mack has scored in double figures in 13 straight games.

3. The Wolverines are 9-of-45 from 3-point range over their last two games.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 71, Michigan 67