STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — With his own game over and his team victorious, Zack Novak couldn’t help but chuckle at the second-most competitive thing he’ll do today.

Novak, who grew up in Chesterton, Ind., is a giant Green Bay fan. He owns three jerseys, his Facebook profile picture is a Packers logo and he has expressed great fandom for former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre.

So with the Packers playing in Super Bowl XLV on Sunday night against Pittsburgh, Novak was planning a small get-together at the condo he shares with Michigan basketball teammates Stu Douglass and Josh Bartelstein. He says he'll be more nervous before the 6:30 p.m. kickoff than he was before the Wolverines' 65-62 win at Penn State.

“I don’t really get nervous for my own games but when I watch other people play, I get nervous,” Novak said. “It’s weird.”

Not really. It’s called being a fan.

Which is why Douglass, Novak’s closest friend at Michigan, said he plans on needling Novak throughout Sunday’s game. Douglass, from suburban Indianapolis, doesn’t like Green Bay.

He’s a Colts fan, so as a matter of habit, he has to root against Pittsburgh.

“I picked the Steelers,” Douglass said. “But being a Colts fan, I don’t like the Steelers at all. I like Aaron Rodgers a little bit, so I might be more on his side. But just to be a little of an antagonist, I might give him stuff.”

As for Novak, he wouldn’t admit to pacing during the game or biting fingernails. But he will be wearing a Packers' jersey tonight.

Which of the three? Well, that’s where his quirky fan behavior really shines.

“I might rotate,” Novak said. “I got (Aaron) Rodgers. I’m not going to put the Favre on. I’ve got the Rodgers and the Reggie White.

“So if we start going down a little bit, I might go to the Reggie White, put The Reverend in there.”

Morgan rebounds again Jordan Morgan’s numbers have dipped in the Big Ten. Against bigger, stronger competition, he has seen his rebounding take hits during some games.

Against Penn State on Sunday, he had no problem.

The redshirt freshman tied career-highs with 11 total rebounds and eight defensive rebounds. He had seven by halftime, matching his second-highest production for a game in the Big Ten.

“It’s all about having an aggressive mindset,” Morgan said. “Getting to the glass and thinking every rebound is mine.”

Morgan also stayed out of foul trouble, which helped his production.

“He needs to go the boards whether he’s playing against Shaquille O’Neal or not,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “He needs to go to the boards every single time as hard as he can.”

More sickness For the second straight game, Michigan has had a depleted roster due to illness. Against Ohio State, Matt Vogrich traveled but couldn’t play Thursday after coming down with a 24-hour bug.

Vogrich returned Sunday and scored six points in 23 minutes, but while he came back, the Wolverines had to go without two others.

Freshmen forwards Jon Horford and Colton Christian both missed the game after sitting out Saturday’s practice. They traveled to Penn State and warmed up, but were unavailable.

“Couldn’t do anything," Beilein said. “They got IVs the day before.”

Michigan was also without Bartelstein, who didn’t make the trip after suffering an injury in practice.

That led to an interesting lineup in the first half when Darius Morris was tired, Tim Hardaway Jr. was in foul trouble and Douglass twisted his ankle. Michigan had Novak, Vogrich Eso Akunne, Blake McLimansand Evan Smotrycz on the floor at the same time.

This and that Douglass said after the game his ankle was fine and “I was (mad) more than anything. I hate when I roll my ankle. I’ve done it so many times.” … Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said after the game there was no chance forward Jeff Brooks would have played Sunday after dislocating his right shoulder Tuesday against Illinois. As for the future, DeChellis said he didn’t know when Brooks would be cleared by trainers to resume practicing.

Michael Rothstein covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.