Michigan @ Indiana preview

Michigan at Indiana

Last Meeting ( Jan 6, 2019 ) Indiana 63, Michigan 74

Sixth-ranked Michigan looks to regain its scoring touch when it visits Indiana on Friday in a Big Ten game. The Wolverines are coming off their worst shooting performance since Nov. 23, 2016 as they finished 33.9 percent from the field, but managed to pull out a 59-57 victory against Minnesota on Tuesday after being held to a season-low points total in a 64-54 setback to Wisconsin on Saturday, and hope to get back on track by sweeping the season series with Indiana.

Michigan, which beat Indiana 74-63 on Jan. 6, is still well placed for a run at the Big Ten regular season title following a program-record 17-0 start as the Wolverines sit one game behind No. 5 Michigan State, and hope to keep pace with the Spartans by pouring more misery on the Hoosiers. Indiana is coming apart at the seams following a 73-66 loss against Northwestern on Tuesday. The Hoosiers have dropped five consecutive games and are in danger of missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, but a potential quadrant one win over a Top 10 team could provide the spark that ignites Indiana's postseason push with the second half of conference play approaching. "I'm looking forward to playing Michigan in a good environment," Indiana coach Archie Miller told reporters. "Some guys got to step up and knock a couple down … as we're not shooting the ball well right now."

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MICHIGAN (18-1, 7-1 Big Ten): Ignas Brazdeikis went 9-of-11 from the free throw line en route to a team-high 18 points and matched his career high with 11 rebounds in the win against Minnesota to post his second double-double after being held scoreless for the first time against Wisconsin. Jon Teske continues to be one of the most improved players in the conference as he added 15 points and five rebounds while Charles Matthews scored seven points, including the game-winning fadeaway as time expired. "I hoped I had gotten it off on time and thankfully I did," Matthews told reporters. "I was happy we won because it was a survival game after we'd lost one."

ABOUT INDIANA (12-7, 3-5): Juwan Morgan scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds against Northwestern to register his seventh double-double of the season and the 16th of his career. Rob Phinisee added a career-high 13 points while fellow freshman Romeo Langford added 12 points and six rebounds against the Wildcats. Race Thompson has been cleared to play and could return Friday after sitting out the previous 17 games with a concussion while Devonte Green, who is averaging eight points and 3.2 assists this season, has been suspended indefinitely for "not meeting the standards expected of members of the program."

TIP-INS

1. Michigan has won the last five meetings by an average margin of 14 points.

2. The Hoosiers are 10-of-55 from 3-point range over their last three games.

3. The Wolverines have held eight of their last nine opponents to fewer than 65 points.

PREDICTION: Michigan 67, Indiana 64