Illinois @ Michigan preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2017 ) Illinois 55, Michigan 75

Michigan looks to extend its winning streak to a season-high seven games when it hosts Illinois on Saturday. The Wolverines jumped out to a big lead and never looked back in the 75-68 win against Iowa on Tuesday, which was their first road victory against the Hawkeyes since 2013-14, and they hope to keep climbing towards a Top 25 spot by improving to 9-0 at home this season.

Michigan has won four straight home meetings with Illinois, including a 66-57 victory in Ann Arbor last season. The Fighting Illini are still looking for their first win in the Big Ten following a 77-67 setback to Minnesota on Wednesday. Illinois trailed by as many as 20 points en route to its third consecutive conference loss and the Fighting Illini, who are 0-4 on the road this season, hope to turn their fortunes around by posting a win at Crisler Center for the first time since a 51-44 victory on Feb. 23, 2010. Illinois has given up an average of 83 points in its last four losses and hopes to avoid its first 0-4 start in Big Ten play in 10 years.

TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT ILLINOIS (10-6, 0-3 Big Ten): Leron Black scored all of his team-leading 14 points in the second half as the Fighting Illini started the game 1-of-19 from the floor in the loss to Minnesota. Trent Frazier drained three 3-pointers en route to 12 points, while Michael Finke and Aaron Jordan were limited to a combined 10 points on 4-of-21 shooting against the Gophers. "We're not going to stick with the same group, that's why I changed it at halftime," Illinois coach Brad Underwood told reporters. "We made mistakes that you can't make and we're going to change that."

ABOUT MICHIGAN (13-3, 2-1): Zavier Simpson continued his stellar play as he led the Wolverines with 15 points and seven assists without a turnover in the win against Iowa. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman also added 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Charles Matthews tallied 14 points and freshman Isaiah Livers provided a spark off the bench by scoring a career-high 13 points against the Hawkeyes. "I know what I'm capable of and this just makes me more confident," Livers told reporters. "From here on in, it just makes me play with a chip on my shoulder."

TIP-INS

1. Michigan has won 12 of the last 14 meetings with Illinois.

2. Black is averaging 17.8 points and 7.5 rebounds over his last four games.

3. The Wolverines have recorded 15 or more assists in 10 games this season.

PREDICTION: Michigan 79, Illinois 68