Wolverines to Travel to Penn State for Tuesday Night Matchup

» Michigan begins a five-day, three-game stretch with a road game at Penn State on Tuesday night.
» U-M and PSU will play only once in the regular season.
» Hunter Dickinson has 20+ points in six of his last seven games (22.7ppg, 62.4 percent shooting).
» Eli Brooks is expected to play in his 146th game at Penn State, tying him with Zavier Simpson as U-M’s all-time leader for career games played.

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The University of Michigan men’s basketball team (11-9, 5-5 Big Ten) opens a busy week of play heading to State College, Pa. on Tuesday (Feb. 8) for a late night battle at Penn State (9-10, 4-7 Big Ten) at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tipoff for the only regular season meeting between the two teams is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2 with John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Jon Crispin (analyst) on the call.

The Scene Setter

• Michigan and Penn State will play the lone regular season matchup between the two programs on Tuesday (Feb. 8) at the Bryce Jordan Center. U-M’s second straight road game starts a busy week for the Maize and Blue, as the Wolverines will play three games over the next five days.

• In U-M’s final 10 Big Ten games of the 2021-22 season, the Wolverines are set to face six nationally ranked foes.

• After having its first regular season game with No. 4 Purdue postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Wolverine program, it was rescheduled for Thursday (Feb. 10). That new date will mark just five days between U-M’s first match-up with the Boilermakers at Mackey Arena, an 82-76 loss (Feb. 5). The schedule closes with No. 16 Ohio State coming to Ann Arbor on Saturday (Feb. 12).

• Already road warriors (11 games), U-M will have three road games over its next five Big Ten games. So far, the Wolverines have a 4-7 record away from Ann Arbor.

• Following that five-game stretch, the Wolverines will play four straight at Crisler Center from Feb. 23 to March 3.

• Hunter Dickinson has 20+ points in six of his last seven games (22.7 ppg, 62.4 percent shooting). He has nine total 20+ point games this season and leads U-M with 18.1 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game for the second straight season.

• Eli Brooks is expected to play in his 146th game at Penn State, tying him with Zavier Simpson as U-M’s all-time leader for career games played. Brooks has started all 20 games this season and is averaging 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

Breaking Down U-M’s Big Fella

• For a second straight season, Hunter Dickinson leads U-M in scoring (18.1ppg) and rebounding (7.9rpg). Last season as a consensus All-America second teamer, he led U-M with 14.1 points (first frosh since 2018-19; Ignas Brazdeikis) and 7.4 rebounds (first frosh since 2012-13; Mitch McGary).

• The last Wolverine to average more than 17+ points in a season was Nik Stauskas (17.5 ppg) during 2013-14 when he guided U-M to the Big Ten title (by three games) and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. The last Wolverine to average 18+ points was Manny Harris (18.1) during the 2009-10 season.

• Dickinson has 16 double-figure games with a team-best nine 20-plus point games including tying his career-best with 28 at Purdue (Feb. 5). He has had 20-plus point efforts in six of his last seven games. He also has a team-best six games of 10-plus rebounds, which has led to his team-best five double-doubles.

• Dickinson has been on pace to become the first Wolverines to average eight-plus rebounds since LaVell Blanchard’s 8.4 per game in the 2000-01 season — 21 years ago.

• Dickinson had 25 assists (0.9 apg) in 28 games last season. This season (19 games), he has 42 (2.2 apg), including a career-best six against Maryland (Jan. 18). He has eight games of 3-plus dimes.

• Dickinson has a team-best seven games with 10-plus field goals as he is shooting 60.3 perfect from the field, which is second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. Purdue’s Zach Edey (68.5 percent) leads the nation and Big Ten.

Milestone Marks

• Eli Brooks (145) needs one game to tie U-M’s all-time record for games played (146; Zavier Simpson).

• Eli Brooks (145) needs five three-pointers to reach 150 in his career (15th Wolverine).

• Eli Brooks (89) needs 11 starts to reach 100 in his career (23rd Wolverine).

• Eli Brooks (955) needs 45 points to reach 1,000 in his career (56th Wolverine).

• DeVante’ Jones (97) needs three starts to reach 100 in his career (Coastal Carolina, Michigan).

• DeVante’ Jones (176) needs 24 steals to reach 200 in his career (Coastal Carolina, Michigan).

• DeVante’ Jones (547) needs 53 rebounds to reach 600 in his career (Coastal Carolina, Michigan).

• DeVante’ Jones (1,567) needs 33 points to reach 1,600 in his career (Coastal Carolina, Michigan).

• DeVante’ Jones (418) needs 82 assists to reach 500 in his career (Coastal Carolina, Michigan).

• Hunter Dickinson (356) needs 144 rebounds to reach 500 in his career (46th Wolverine).

• Hunter Dickinson (737) needs 263 points to reach 1,000 in his career (56th Wolverine).

The Penn State Nittany Lions

• Penn State hosts U-M sporting a 9-10 overall record and a 4-7 mark in Big Ten play in Micah Shrewsberry’s first season as head coach. The Nittany Lions have lost four of its last five games — all on the road.

• The Nittany Lions, who are 7-3 at home, will play five of its next seven games at home in the Bryce Jordan Center.

• Penn State averages 65.5 points, grabs 36.3 rebounds and is shooting 42.8 percent from the field.

• Penn State is led by junior forward Seth Lundy, who has averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while leading the team in three-pointers (39) and blocks (11) and adding 18 steals.

• Senior guard Jalen Pickett (Siena transfer) posts 12.8 points per game and leads the team with 4.2 assists per game. His 30 three-pointers is third on the team. Senior Sam Sessoms has balanced the Nittany Lion guards with his 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

• One of four super seniors, John Harrar has provided strong play down low, averaging 10.3 points and a team-best 9.5 rebounds, including 3.3 offensive boards (first in the Big Ten and 18th nationally). His 63 offensive rebounds are more than triple the next closest Nittany Lion.

• With 86 percent of his shots coming from long range (92-of-107), senior Myles Dread has made 33 triples and is averaging 6.1 points per game.

The History of Michigan and Penn State

• Michigan and Penn State have played 51 games, with U-M leading the series, 37-14. U-M has a 13-9 record in State College, winning five of its last seven meetings.

• There have been six games decided by less than three points, with U-M leading, 4-2, and one game decided by one point, with U-M leading, 1-0. In the last thriller (Jan. 4, 2017); U-M rallied with a 32-15 run in the final 12 minutes to secure a 72-69 home win at Crisler Center.

• There has been one overtime game in the history of the series, with U-M leading, 1-0. In the only overtime game (Feb. 19, 2000); U-M fended off Penn State, 89-87, at Crisler Center.

• Most U-M points vs. PSU: 92 (W, 92-75) on Jan. 3, 1998 at U-M
• Most PSU points vs. U-M: 87 (W, 89-87, OT) on Feb. 19, 2000 at U-M
• 10-plus point wins for U-M: 17
• 20-plus point wins for U-M: 5
• 10+ point losses for U-M: 6
• 20-plus point losses for U-M: 0

Up Next

Thursday, Feb. 10 — vs. No. 3 Purdue (Crisler Center), 9:00 p.m. (TV: ESPN) | Tickets

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