Preview: No. 2 Michigan vs. Iowa

Undefeated Michigan hosts Iowa in Big Ten home opener at Crisler Arena

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Iowa closed out 2012 with one of the most difficult tests in college basketball. Its first game of the new year could be even tougher.

Coming off a narrow home loss to fifth-ranked Indiana, the young Hawkeyes will be up against it when they visit undefeated and No. 2 Michigan on Sunday afternoon. Iowa acquitted itself well in the 69-65 loss to the Hoosiers but now must contend with a high-powered Michigan squad that has won half its 14 games by 28 points or more.

The Wolverines opened their Big Ten campaign in impressive fashion Thursday night, rolling up their second-highest point total of the season in a 94-66 romp at Northwestern.

TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network.

ABOUT IOWA (11-3, 0-1 Big Ten): The Hawkeyes held Indiana to its second-lowest point total of the season but couldn't overcome their own poor shooting. Leading scorer Roy Devyn Marble connected on 1-of-14 shots and missed all four 3-point attempts as Iowa was 3-for-17 from behind the arc. Aaron White scored 15 points to pace the Hawkeyes, who feature three freshmen in the starting lineup. Iowa should get a lift from forward Melsahn Basabe, the team's leading shot blocker, who was limited to 13 minutes combined in the last two games due to an ankle injury. Basabe scored a career-high 25 points at Michigan last season.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (14-0, 1-0 Big Ten): Trey Burke, who is seventh in the country in assists (7.2), scored 23 points to lead five players in double figures against Northwestern. Tim Hardaway Jr. returned to the lineup after a one-game injury absence and poured in 21 points while burying 4 of-5 3-pointers. The Wolverines shot 59.6 percent overall and hit 13-of-22 3-pointers. Michigan is averaging 81.1 points - nearly 15 points higher than last season - and ranks fourth nationally in scoring margin (22.1).

Michigan is off to the second-best start in school history. The 1985-86 team won its first 16 games.

Iowa snapped a six-game losing streak to the Wolverines with a 75-59 home win last season.

Michigan is 9-0 at Crisler Arena this season and 24-1 over the past two seasons.