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Sunday’s Pregame Shootaround: Michigan travels to Ames in a matchup against Iowa State

Fred Hoiberg

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg waves to fans after the announcement that his team will play Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, during a selection-show party, Sunday, March 11, 2012, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AP

GAME OF THE DAY: No. 7 Michigan at Iowa State, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Michigan welcomed UMass Lowell to Division I, outscoring the River Hawks 46-19 in the second half. The Wolverines followed that opening night win with A 34-point beatdown -- thanks to 15 3-pointers -- of South Carolina State. Iowa State began the season with two wins by a margin of 30 points or more against the likes of UNC-Wilmington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. After a pair of easy wins for each squad, Michigan travels to the Hilton Coliseum in an early season test between Big Ten and Big 12 programs.

This will be a sophomore-heavy game with Michigan’s Mitch McGary, Caris LaVert, Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III while Iowa State features Georges Niang and Naz Long. The matchup to watch though will be DeAndre Kane vs. Derrick Walton in the back court.

WHO’S GETTING UPSET?: Long Beach State at Kansas State, 4:00 p.m.

Long Beach State is one of the favorites in the Big West this season, but has put together a tough non-conference schedule. The 49ers lost the last two to No. 6 Arizona and Loyola Marymount. Up next after K-State are games against No. 7 Michigan, Washington, Creighton, USC, and North Carolina State before Long Beach State kicks off conference play with UC-Irvine. The 49ers are looking to be the second team to knock off the Wildcats in Manhattan this season after Northern Colorado did so on opening night.

MID-MAJOR MATCHUP OF THE DAY: Valparaiso at Ohio, 2:00 p.m.

Valparaiso and Ohio meet up in a Horizon League-MAC matchup after each team had battled with Big Ten programs. The Crusaders cut it close in the second half against Illinois only to lose 64-52. The Bobcats were also trying to pull the upset late in the game, but in-state rival Ohio State took care of business in a 79-69 win.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

1) Rivalry game in Rupp Arena tonight? Well, not really. But you can imagine that Big Blue Nation wants to hand Robert Morris a beating after the Colonials upset the Wildcats in the first round of the NIT last season. Sure, Julius Randle, James Young and the Harrison twins were still in high school when the Cats when down in Coraopolis, Pa., but this will be their first game after Tuesday’s loss to No. 2 Michigan State at the Champions Classic.

2) Boston College looks for first win of the season against Florida Atlantic. The Eagles enter the contest at 0-3 after losing to short-handed Providence, followed with a loss to UMass two days later and then a loss at home to Toledo on Thursday. Steve Donahue put together a tough conference schedule and so far it has backfired. Rebounding has been the issue in all three games for BC.

3) Towson is looking to take down another Philly powerhouse after improving to 3-0 -- the first time in four decades the Tigers started 3-0 -- after taking down Temple at home on Thursday night. Towson will look to move to 4-0, but it will have to do so at Villanova.

4) Indiana State gave up 63 second half points to Belmont on Thursday night, blowing a 16-point halftime lead. The Sycamores, a team a that figures to contend in the Missouri Valley Conference, now has to turnaround and take the floor against No. 21 Notre Dame in South Bend. (12:00 p.m.)

5) Oregon State will travel to Maryland to take on the Terrapins on Sunday evening. As reported earlier in the week, President Obama will be the most notable fan in attendance. Beavers head coach Craig Robinson is the older brother of First Lady Michelle Obama.

THE REST OF THE TOP 25


  • Robert Morris at No. 1 Kentucky, 7:00 p.m.
  • Belmont at No. 12 North Carolina, 4:00 p.m.
  • Oakland at No. 15 Gonzaga, 8:00 p.m.
  • Boston University at No. 19 UConn, 12:00 p.m.
  • Indiana State at No. 21 Notre Dame, 12:00 p.m.
  • Charleston Southern at No. 22 New Mexico, 6:05 p.m.
  • Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 23 Baylor, 5:00 p.n.

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