ANN ARBOR -- Just days removed from a rather embarrassing loss, the Michigan Wolverines look to get back on the winning track on Sunday afternoon when they host the Northwestern Wildcats.
The Wolverines were riding high as one of the best teams in the Big Ten and slowly creeping their way into the conversation as one of the better teams in the nation. However, a lot of that goodwill was erased on Thursday night. In taking on Minnesota, who had not won a conference game to that point, the Wolverines did not look overly comfortable, with the Gophers taking them to overtime. It ended up being the maize and blue's undoing, as a buzzer-beater gave Minnesota a stunning 84-81 victory.
It really is a gut-check result for Michigan, who had put together a long stretch of solid performances, even against ranked competition. Now, they need to dust themselves off to keep with rival Michigan State, whom the Wolverines trail by a game after their first conference loss of the season.
The Wildcats have been up and down this season, though they have not shown the same level of "upset prowess" they have shown in previous seasons. They managed to snap a three-game losing skid on Thursday, outlasting Maryland in a tight game at home, but Northwestern is tied for 13th in the Big Ten.
Since 2000, the Wolverines are 25-12 against the Wildcats, though Northwestern ended a seven-game losing streak against Michigan last February.
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Northwestern Wildcats (11-6, 2-4 B1G) vs. #20 Michigan Wolverines (13-4, 5-1 B1G)