Michigan vs Northwestern: Preview, Game Thread and How to Watch

The Michigan Wolverines will face off with the Northwestern Wildcats for the second time this season at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Wolverines were this close to losing their first game of the season in their first meet up in early December:

Michigan was held to just 26 points in the second half. Without Ignas Brazdeikis’ 13 second-half points, Michigan likely would have fallen to the Wildcats.

Fast forward one month and the Wolverines are still undefeated as the Wildcats come to Ann Arbor for their second shot at dethroning the top-ranked Big Ten team.

Northwestern has struggled since its loss to Michigan, dropping three of its past five games.

Once again the Wolverines will be tasked with slowing down Vic Law who is due for a big game. He has scored just 13 points in his last two appearances despite averaging more than 17 per game so far this season.

Likewise, Michigan will have to shoot the ball better than it did in Evanston earlier this season. It shot just 5-of-20 from deep in the first matchup between these two squads.

Northwestern is hoping to steal a big win from the Wolverines in the Crisler Center to catapult its chances of making the NCAA Tournament with a big win under its belt. With a coach like Chris Collins who will literally get on his hands and knees to motivate his team; the Wildcats are likely to be pushed harder than usual to end Michigan’s hopes of an undefeated season.

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The Wolverines hope to stay unbeaten on the year and extend their winning streak to 17 games, the most to start a season in school history. They also hope to keep up with their in-state rival, Michigan State, and maintain the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten Conference.

The record is sure to be on the mind of the Wolverines, but it won’t come easy against the team that gave them their toughest win to this point.

How To Watch:

Teams: No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (16-0) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (10-6)

Date: Sunday, Jan. 13

Location: Crisler Center — Ann Arbor, Mich.

Tipoff: 7:30 ET

Television: BTN