No. 2 Michigan, on a ‘heater’, poses tall order for Penn State
Michigan has been streaking with an epic roll that contains 10 victories by 25 or more points already this season.
The No. 2 Wolverines look to add Penn State to the list of blowout victims when they face the Nittany Lions on Tuesday night in Big Ten play at University Park, Pa.
Michigan (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten) is one of six undefeated teams nationally and has topped 100 points seven times, including in six of their past eight games.
Friday's 96-66 home victory over No. 24 Southern California marked the ninth time in the past 10 games that the Wolverines won by at least 25. Five of the wins during the stretch are by 40 or more, including a 52-point rout of La Salle on Dec. 21.
Overall, the Wolverines have six wins by 40 or more points.
"This is a heater," Michigan coach Dusty May said of his team's torrid play.
And May has no interest in taking his foot off the pedal.
"We've got to be excited for the preparation that's going to go into giving us an opportunity to win that game," May said of facing Penn State. "But as far as looking in the rear view, no. If we're not learning from something specific or a past lesson, we're not (doing that)."
Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-best 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting against USC. It was his second straight game 20-point effort as he tallied 24 in a 112-71 rout of McNeese on Dec. 29 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Johnson didn't want to get caught up in his individual numbers.
"We've got to stay locked in and get better every day because we know we have an end goal at the end of the year," Johnson said.
Johnson ranks second on the Wolverines in scoring (14.8), just behind Yaxel Lendeborg (15.1). Trey McKenney (10.8), Roddy Gayle Jr. (10.5) and Aday Mara (10.5) also average in double digits. Mara has a team-best 8.1 rebounding average.
Penn State (9-5, 0-3) has dropped four of its last five games and it follows the Michigan contest with a road game at No. 5 Purdue on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions never led in last Saturday's 73-65 loss to Illinois in a contest played in Philadelphia at The Palestra.
Penn State trailed 13-3 right off the bat and was down by as many as 15 during a tough night.
"I wish we would have played better to start the game -- that got us in a hole," Nittany Lions coach Mike Rhoades said. "Illinois is a very good team. I thought our guys battled ... We battled, but still not good enough; we've got work to do."
Penn State struggled from 3-point range by going 8-for-38 and made 14 fewer free throws (23 to nine) than the Illini.
Kayden Mingo recorded 16 points, five assists and four steals and Eli Rice added 11 points for the Nittany Lions.
Rice, a redshirt sophomore guard, has scored in double digits in consecutive games and five times overall this season.
"I'm just trying to get better every game," Rice said. "I think coaches are doing a good job helping me find shots and stuff. So really, just trying to get on that."
Mingo, a freshman guard, leads Penn State with a 14.9 scoring average. Freddie Dilione V chips in 14.1 per game and Melih Tunca is third at 10.6.
Not a single Nittany Lion is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game.
Michigan registered a 76-72 home win over Penn State in last season's lone meeting to snap a three-game skid in the series.