Michigan Vs Indiana: Who Will Win?

will michigan beat indiana in basketball

The Michigan Wolverines and the Indiana Hoosiers have a storied history in college basketball, with the two Big Ten programs meeting regularly. The Wolverines have had more success in recent years, but the Hoosiers will be hoping to make it back to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mike Woodson, who has announced that this season will be his last. Michigan, meanwhile, is chasing the Big Ten title, and will be looking to build on four wins in their last five games.

Characteristics Values
Date of the game 5th March 2023
Final score Indiana 75, Michigan 73
Indiana's coach Mike Woodson
Michigan's coach Phil Martelli (interim)
Indiana's record 17-13, 9-10 Big Ten
Michigan's record 18-12, 10-9
Indiana's performance Lost their lone 2024 commitment
Michigan's performance Won four of their last five games
Indiana's player performance Kel'el Ware, Gabe Cupps, Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako, Trey Galloway
Michigan's player performance Dug McDaniel, Tre Donaldson, Vlad Goldin, Danny Wolf

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Michigan's coaching situation

On the football side, Michigan recently underwent a significant change with the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh, who achieved legend status during his time with the Wolverines. Harbaugh led Michigan to a national championship, three consecutive Big Ten championships, and three straight wins against Ohio State. He left to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving big shoes to fill in Ann Arbor.

The top candidate to replace Harbaugh appears to be offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who has been with the program since 2020 and played a key role in its recent success. Moore has two top-10 wins under his belt, including a notable victory over Ohio State while serving as the interim head coach during Harbaugh's suspension. His understanding of the program and proven ability to make the right calls make him a strong contender for the head coaching role.

Another name that has been mentioned in relation to Michigan's football coaching vacancy is Jesse Minter, who has experience with the "Ravens scheme" and has consistently achieved good results relative to the conference and resources available. However, it's unclear if Minter is still in the running for the position, as some sources indicate that the search may be quick, with Moore being the frontrunner.

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Indiana's losing streak

Indiana has had a few losing streaks in its basketball history, with the team experiencing a mix of successes and setbacks over the years.

One notable losing streak for Indiana was against Wisconsin. Indiana used to dominate the series for years when Bob Knight was their coach. However, Knight lost his last Big Ten game against Wisconsin in 2000, and the Hoosiers' losing streak began. The streak continued and, as of 2024, Indiana had lost 19 straight games to Wisconsin, tied for the worst in school history. This marked a significant role reversal in the rivalry, with Indiana unable to secure a win at Wisconsin's Kohl Center since 1998.

In addition to the Wisconsin losing streak, Indiana also experienced setbacks against other opponents. In 2025, Indiana suffered the second-worst home loss in program history against Illinois, marked by poor shooting, a lack of rebounding, and nonexistent defense. This loss left Indiana's players and fans frustrated and searching for answers. Indiana has also had losing streaks against other teams, such as Purdue, where they lost 19 straight games from 1901 to 1922.

Despite these losing streaks, Indiana has also achieved success on the court. In 2024, Indiana extended its winning streak to four games against Michigan State, showcasing the team's ability to bounce back. Indiana has also produced notable players, such as sophomore Kel'el Ware, who has consistently performed well for the team.

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Michigan's winning streak

Michigan has a rich history in basketball, with the Michigan State Spartans participating in 38 NCAA tournaments—tied for 10th-most all-time. The Spartans have also appeared in 27 consecutive NCAA tournaments, the second-longest streak ever and the longest active streak in college basketball.

The Spartans hold the ninth-best NCAA tournament winning percentage with .686 through 2023. They also have the sixth-most Final Four appearances with 10, and the fifth-most Sweet Sixteens with 22. On January 30, 2024, Tom Izzo earned his 700th career win, all at MSU.

In 2025, the Spartans went on a seven-game winning streak, with five of those wins against ranked opponents, including a double-digit victory over No. 17 Michigan. This winning streak contributes to Michigan State's impressive basketball history, which includes numerous accolades and achievements.

While the sources provided details about Michigan State's winning streaks, I could not find specific information about winning streaks for the Michigan Wolverines.

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Indiana's player performance

Indiana has a rich history of basketball talent, with many players going on to have successful careers in the NBA. Here is a detailed look at some of the most notable performances by Indiana players:

George McGinnis

The most dominant power forward in Hoosier history, George McGinnis, had a stellar season in Bloomington. He posted impressive rebounding numbers, averaging 14.7 per game, and set a school record with an incredible 29.9 points per game. McGinnis' talent was clear, and he went on to have a successful professional career, making All-Star games in both the ABA and the NBA.

Scott May

The leader of the undefeated 1976 NCAA champions, Scott May, had a stellar season with averages of 23.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Over his college career, the 6'7" May scored 1,593 points, ranking him 11th in Hoosier history. May was drafted second overall by the Bulls but had a somewhat disappointing NBA career, although he did show glimpses of his college form.

Steve Green

Although he graduated before Indiana won national titles, Steve Green was part of the greatest offensive frontcourt trio in IU history. As a senior and an All-American small forward, Green led the trio with 47.9 points per game combined. Green was drafted by the Bulls but chose to play for the ABA's Utah Stars and later signed with the Pacers after the merger.

Jimmy Rayl

A 6'2" guard with an incredible jump shot, Jimmy Rayl, was a scoring machine for the Hoosiers. His junior-year average of 29.8 points per game is a school record, and he holds the single-game record with 56 points, doing so twice. Rayl was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Kings) but only played two seasons in the ABA, averaging 11.1 points.

Jared Jeffries

Standing at 6'11", Jared Jeffries was a talented player who put up impressive numbers during his short time with the Hoosiers. In his two seasons, Jeffries averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, showcasing his all-around ability.

Kel'el Ware

In more recent Indiana basketball, sophomore Kel'el Ware has been a key player for the Hoosiers. In the 2023-2024 season, Ware recorded multiple double-doubles, including a crucial performance against Maryland. Ware's strong play has helped Indiana's success, and he has been their leading scorer in several games.

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Michigan's player performance

Michigan Wolverines have had a rich history in basketball, with the team winning back-to-back championships in 1925-26 and 1926-27. The Wolverines also achieved success in the 1970s under coach Johnny Orr, who earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honours in 1974 and 1977. During this period, six players earned a total of seven All-American recognitions, the most of any Michigan coach.

In recent years, the Wolverines have been led by head coach Juwan Howard, who was hired in 2019. In his first season, Howard led the team to a 7–0 start, including wins over No.6 UNC and No.8 Gonzaga, and the Wolverines jumped to No.4 in the AP poll. In the 2021-22 season, the Wolverines finished with a 17-13 record and made it to the NCAA tournament as an 11th seed, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. However, they lost to Villanova in the next round, and in the following two seasons, they failed to make the NCAA tournament. After a disappointing 2023-24 season, in which they lost a program-record 24 games, Howard was let go, and Dusty May was named the new head coach.

The current season has seen the Wolverines perform well, led by interim head coach Phil Martelli, with Juwan Howard returning to the team as an assistant after recovering from a heart procedure. Their leading scorer is sophomore guard Dug McDaniel, who averaged 20.3 points per game entering a Tuesday contest.

Frequently asked questions

Indiana's basketball team is called the Hoosiers, and Michigan's basketball team is called the Wolverines.

Indiana has had an underwhelming season, losing six of its last seven contests. They did, however, manage to extend a winning streak to four games by edging Michigan State. Michigan, on the other hand, has won four of its last five games, with victories over Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, and Oregon. Their lone loss during that stretch was to Big Ten leader Purdue.

Since 2017, Indiana and Michigan have played 12 games, with Michigan winning eight and Indiana winning four.

Given Michigan's strong form and Indiana's struggles, most predictions favour Michigan to win. One prediction puts the score at Michigan 74, Indiana 66.

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