The Penn State men's basketball team only has one game this week, but it is a very important conference matchup.

Coming off an overtime loss to Indiana on Saturday and an exciting overtime upset of Illinois last Wednesday, the Nittany Lions (13-7, 3-6 Big Ten) host Michigan at 8 tonight in The Bryce Jordan Center.

The Wolverines (9-11, 3-6) have struggled this year and after facing No. 4 Michigan State and No. 16 Wisconsin in back-to-back home games, Michigan wants to get back on the right track tonight against the Lions.

"We are really looking to recover," Michigan men's basketball coach Brian Ellerbe said. "We're very concerned about Joe Crispin who I think is the most underrated guard in the league."

Ellerbe said the Wolverines will be wary of 6-foot-4 Titus Ivory, who Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn called the heart and soul of the Lions basketball team.

Michigan is led by 6-foot-7 sophomore LaVell Blanchard who has torched opponents this season and has continued to impress Big Ten coaches.

Blanchard can take the ball to the basket, but is more of an outside threat who usually gets the advantage when it comes to defensive matchups. Either the sophomore is taller than his opponent so he can shoot his jumpshot over the defender or he is quicker than some who try to defend him with size on the perimeter.

But Ellerbe said Ivory will be a tough matchup for his star player because he is physically strong who knows how to defend bigger players.

Ellerbe added that Ivory has the ability to guard "up and down", which means that the defender uses his strength to muscle his way against the taller, quicker offensive player.

"He can do a pretty good job guarding people anywhere from 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-0," the Michigan coach said. "LaVell will have a tough time getting open against Titus."

Michigan's best strength is that they have height, both inside and outside and boast 6-foot-11 senior Josh Asselin who is a power post player. With 6-foot-8 senior Gyasi Cline-Heard being Penn State's major defensive force inside, the Wolverines might have an advantage on the blocks.

But with the way Cline-Heard has stepped up and defended in big games against top-notch players in the Big Ten, Asselin might have his hands full tonight.

"Gyasi has done a real fine job of being an inside presence," Dunn said. "Guys like Titus have taken some of the pressure off the inside guys."

Although the Lions split their two last home games, beating Illinois and losing to Indiana, Dunn said he doesn't want to put added importance on the final game of the Lions three game home stand.

The sixth-year coach wants to keep every game just as important as the next.

"I never want to put more emphasis on any other game," Dunn said. "We're going to take one game at a time."