Harbaugh talk boosts UM ticket prices

— -- Talk of Michigan announcing Jim Harbaugh as its new head football coach at Tuesday's home basketball game against Illinois has boosted ticket prices for the game.

The cheapest ticket on ticket reseller StubHub to get into Michigan's Crisler Arena for its Big Ten opener against the University of Illinois was $119.25 as of 10:30 a.m. ET on Monday. A pair of tickets in the same section had sold on the site on Dec. 22 for $28 each.

One seller was trying to get more than $1,000 each for two seats at center court, 16 rows up. Seats two rows in front of those seats had sold for $200 apiece on Dec. 16.

StubHub spokesman Cameron Papp said the average ticket price paid for the game climbed to $67 Monday morning, up from $50 just three days ago. With more than 1,500 tickets sold, Papp said it also qualifies as StubHub's best-selling Michigan basketball game of the season.

Student fan group "Maize Rage" announced on Twitter Sunday night that they would host a "Khaki Out" in honor of Harbaugh's pants choice.

The average price paid on StubHub to the Michigan State at Michigan game in February last season was $210, Papp said, but that featured two ranked teams. (Michigan State was No. 13; Michigan was No. 23.)

Not only is neither team ranked for Tuesday's game, but the Wolverines men's basketball team finished the nonconference schedule a disappointing 7-5. The team was upset by 24.5-point underdog NJIT on Dec. 6. Three days later, Michigan lost to Eastern Michigan.