Bitter Big Ten Conference rivals square off on Sunday afternoon, as the 24th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes pay a visit to the Michigan Wolverines. Ann Arbor, MI (SportsNetwork.com) – Bitter Big Ten Conference rivals square off on Sunday afternoon, as the 24th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes pay a visit to the Michigan Wolverines. Both teams began the season with so much promise, but conference play, particularly in the Big Ten, has a way of balancing the scales and making good teams seem anything but at times. Ohio State went 11-2 during the non-conference portion of its schedule, but the Buckeyes have gone 8-5 since, failing to string together more than three straight wins since running off four in a row from Dec. 6-17. OSU dropped a 59-56 decision at Michigan State on Valentine’s Day, saddling the team with its fifth loss in eight true road games. Michigan began the campaign at 6-1, but four straight setbacks from Dec. 6-20, including a 72-70 home loss to NJIT, started the team on a downward spiral that has it currently locked in at an even 13-13, 6-8 in conference. The Wolverines are mired in a five-game losing streak, with their latest defeat coming in an 80-67 final versus visiting Michigan State last Tuesday. As a result, UM has lost its last two in front of the hometown faithful. Ohio State beat Michigan in Columbus back on Jan. 13, 71-52, to extend its lead in the all-time series to 100-76. In that contest, D’Angelo Russell paced the Buckeyes with 21 points and six assists, while the Wolverines were led by Caris LeVert with 14 points. Michigan was held to 33.9 percent field goal efficiency, and that included a dreadful 6-of-26 showing from 3-point range. In Ohio State’s recent clash with Michigan State, Shannon Scott led the way with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Russell, Jae’Sean Tate and Sam Thompson tacked on 10 points apiece in what turned out to be a narrow road loss for the Buckeyes. …
Continue Reading: Big Ten brawl pits Buckeyes against Wolverines
