Nebraska @ Michigan preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 2, 2018 ) Michigan 77, Nebraska 58

Tenth-ranked Michigan looks to bounce back from its first home loss since Jan. 9, 2018 when it hosts Nebraska on Thursday. The Wolverines dropped a 77-70 decision to No. 8 Michigan State on Saturday to see their 22-game home winning streak come to a screeching halt while falling a game behind the Spartans in the race for the Big Ten title, and hope to stay in contention by taking down the Cornhuskers for the 11th straight time in Ann Arbor.

"We're still in the championship hunt and anything can happen down the stretch," Michigan coach John Beilein told reporters. "There's so much more to our season than beating Michigan State and I know that hurts some of our fans who love this game." Nebraska's NCAA Tournament hopes are on life support following back-to-back losses last week. The Cornhuskers were blown out 95-71 against Penn State before suffering a 75-72 home setback to No. 12 Purdue on Saturday, and aim to play their way back on to the right side of the bubble by knocking off a Top 10 team for the first time since Jan. 20, 2016. "You have to tell these guys to just lock into the moment as anything can still happen," Nebraska coach Tim Miles told reporters. "What do you say: Let's play for the NIT?"

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT NEBRASKA (15-13, 5-12 Big Ten): Glynn Watson Jr. knocked down five 3-pointers en route to a season-high 25 points against Purdue to move into a tie with Ray Gallegos (158) for seventh place on the program's all-time 3-point field goals list. James Palmer added 15 points and eight assists against the Boilermakers to finish in double figures for the 24th consecutive time while moving within nine made free throws of matching the single-season school record set by Jack Moore (184) in 1979-80. Thomas Allen scored nine points and Isaiah Roby tallied seven points and six rebounds as the Cornhuskers suffered their ninth loss in 11 games.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (24-4, 13-4): Zavier Simpson scored 19 points and pulled down five rebounds but the Wolverines were undone by a 35.7 percent performance from the field in the second half, including 2-of-14 from 3-point range. Iggy Brazdeikis added 16 points and nine rebounds while Jon Teske finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds against the Spartans to register his fourth double-double of the season. Charles Matthews, who finished with four points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field, tweaked his ankle in the second half but is expected to play Thursday.

TIP-INS

1. Michigan has won 11 of the last 12 overall meetings with Nebraska, including eight games by 13 or more points.

2. Palmer leads the Big Ten in made free throws per game (6.3).

3. Teske extended his streak of games with at least one blocked shot to 23 in a row.

PREDICTION: Michigan 73, Nebraska 66