Entering their only meeting of the regular season on Wednesday in Ann Arbor, No. 13 Maryland and host Michigan, ranked No. 17, have taken different routes to success in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan (22-7, 14-4 Big Ten) is in second place in the conference standings, just behind No. 9 Purdue, while Maryland (22-8, 13-6) is in a tie for fifth with No. 24 Rutgers and Northwestern.
Maryland has been led by the dominant frontcourt duo of Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan Jr, who have been instrumental in the team's success this season. Smith, a 6-foot-10 forward, has been averaging 15.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while Cowan Jr, a 6-foot0 guard, has been averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Michigan has been relying on the talented frontcourt duo of Jon Teske and Isaiah Livers, who have been powering the team's offense and defense. Teske, a 7-foot-1 center, has been averaging 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Livers, a 6-foot-7 forward, has been averaging 13.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
The matchup between these two frontcourt duos is expected to be one of the most exciting and closely watched in the Big Ten this season. Both teams have shown the ability to dominate games on both ends of the court, and the battle between Smith and Cowan Jr and Teske and Livers will be a key factor in determining the outcome of the game.
Maryland and Michigan have a long and storied history, with the two teams having met 13 times previously. Michigan holds a 9-4 advantage in the series, but Maryland has won two of the last three meetings, including a 83-69 victory last season.
The game on Wednesday will be played at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, with tip-off scheduled for 7pm ET. The contest will be televised on ESPN, and fans can also stream the game online through the ESPN app.
In addition to the frontcourt battle, fans can also expect to see a intense and physical matchup between two of the best defensive teams in the Big Ten. Michigan is allowing an average of 63.4 points per game, while Maryland is giving up an average of 64.5 points per game.
Overall, the matchup between No. 13 Maryland and No. 17 Michigan is shaping up to be one of the most exciting games of the season in the Big Ten. With two talented frontcourt duos and two of the best defensive teams in the conference, fans can expect a closely contested and hard-fought battle on Wednesday night.