15 on Sunday, Michigan (15-11, 9-7 Big Ten) finds itself on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble... but bubbles nonetheless, according to CBS Sports Bracketology Expert. But Jerry Palm. Illini, meanwhile, is trying to stay in the running for a regular-season Big Ten title with the likes of Purdue, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Just a week earlier, Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard hit Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabenhoft in a postgame incident that landed Howard a five-game suspension. While times could hardly have been worse for a Michigan team in need of a strong finish, the program is lucky for Howard to have Phil Martelli standing in. The associate head coach came to Michigan in 2019 after a long 24-year run at St. Joseph's and coached the Wolverines to a big 71-62 win over Rutgers on Wednesday.
Illinois (19-8, 12-5) suffered an 86–83 loss to Ohio State, with a furious late rally shortly after the ouster of Illinois coach Brad Underwood for taking two technical fouls. . Illinois won the first meeting between these teams on January 14 at home, 68–53. The Wolverines have since been 8-4, however, and should receive a substantial boost from their home crowd as the NCAA Tournament bid hangs in the balance.
How to watch Illinois vs. Michigan live
Date: Sunday, Feb. 27 | Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Crisler Center -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App