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Michigan Basketball: How to watch and stream, plus storylines vs Illinois

By Chris Peterson

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines is seen during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on December 11, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines is seen during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on December 11, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Michigan basketball will host Illinois Saturday in a pivotal game and here is how to watch and stream, as well as key storylines.

The once-promising season of Michigan basketball has taken a rough turn over the past few weeks, since the restart of Big Ten play and the injury to Isaiah Livers.

At this point, there really is no point in speculating when Livers will return. Head coach Juwan Howard said he needs to practice before he plays. Maybe he will have practiced and will play Saturday. But it seems highly unlikely.

Besides, the Wolverines can’t sit back and wait on Livers to save the season. At this rate, by the time he returns, it might be beyond saving and that’s not hyperbole.

Michigan basketball currently sits 2-5 in the Big Ten conference and the Wolverines haven’t won a true road game all season, despite neutral wins over Gonzaga, North Carolina and Iowa State.

While road wins have been hard to get for every team in the Big Ten and that was sort of used to explain away losses at Michigan State, Minnesota and Iowa, the home loss to Penn State pushed the level of panic to new heights.

Getting to 10-10 in the league would require an 8-5 finish and right now, with the schedule, that seems quite optimistic. Beating a team like Illinois at home Saturday will help. Just like Penn State, winning this is a must and here’s how to watch and stream, as well as odds.

Game Info:

Game 19: Michigan vs Iowa

Where: Crisler Center

When: 12:00 PM EST

TV: Fox Sports One

Stream: Fox Sports 2 Go or Fubo TV

Radio: WTKA-AM 1050 (Ann Arbor); WWJ-AM 950 (Detroit), mgoblue.com

Breakdown

Illinois is a very talented team and the 21st ranked Fighting Illini will be led by dynamic sophomore Ayo Dosunmu, who leads the team with 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Kofi Cockburn is someone that Michigan basketball fans will remember well after he dominated the first matchup.

Illinois, as many other teams have, turned Zavier Simpson into a scorer and beat the Wolverines even with Livers in the lineup.

Illinois has won five straight games, also beating Purdue twice, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Rutgers to put itself into a tie for first place. Michigan, on the other hand, has lost four of five in the conference and it will need a herculean effort from Jon Teske, Simpson and Franz Wagner. Eli Brooks and David DeJulius need to step up too, along with Brandon Johns, Austin Davis and Colin Castleton on the inside.

A win can put the season back on track, a loss drops Michigan basketball to 2-6 in the Big Ten and it’s hard to see the Wolverines recovering from that.

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