The Michigan Wolverines and Illinois Fighting Illini are playing live on the Big Ten tournament schedule on Thursday and the game is live on the Big Ten Network from BTN2Go online streaming at 12 pm ET from the United Center in Chicago as the two unranked teams face off and it comes as Michigan is just 15-15 and they will be looking to stay alive in the tourney into the next round.
The second round matchup has two unranked teams going at it and it comes after Michigan won over Rutgers to end the season. Illinois has a 9-9 record in the Big Ten and Michigan comes in with eight wins this season in the conference and it has been an overall disappointing year for the Wolverines. The team is averaging 64 points per game and their offense has not been very consistent this season.
The defense hasn't been much better and they will try and bounce back after losing two of their final three games of the season. The last month and half has not been good for Michigan, as they have won just two of their last nine games dating back to February 1. That matchup was a loss in overtime on the road against Michigan State and that started a five game losing streak for the team.
The Wolverines lost twice to the Spartans in that span and the team also lost to Illinois in overtime and now they matchup again. Michigan won earlier in the season over Illinois in overtime and now they are having a third matchup. Illinois comes into the game after a loss to Purdue and they are averaging 70 points per game this season and are looking to get through to the next round.
The defense allows 62 points per game this season and the team comes in having won two of their final three games of the year. The team has wins over Michigan State and Maryland from earlier in the season and they could be a pesky team for some schools in this tournament.
Check here for the Michigan Wolverines and Illinois live coverage.
