Minnesota vs. Michigan State Preview
EAST LANSING, MI (AP) – Tom Izzo has made a point of using a rigorous non-conference schedule to prepare Michigan State for Big Ten play and beyond. He may have overestimated the Spartans’ ability to cope with the challenge this season.
Opening its conference schedule against a team it has dominated at home may help Michigan State get back on track.
The 20th-ranked Spartans look to beat No. 14 Minnesota for the 12th straight time at the Breslin Center on Friday night.
Current college basketball odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGlobal.com have made Michigan State -8 point spread favorites for Friday’s game against Minnesota. Current college basketball public betting information shows that 85% of more than 175 bets for this game have been placed on Minnesota +8.
Michigan State (8-4) is 1-4 against ranked teams and also lost to Connecticut, which was unranked at the time but has climbed to fourth in the poll.
The Spartans fell 67-55 at home to then-No. 18 Texas in its most recent game last Wednesday, their third straight loss to a Top 25 opponent. Ranked second to start the season, Michigan State has so far failed to live up to expectations despite returning most of the roster from last season’s Final Four team.
Preseason Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas scored 17 points against the Longhorns, but he received little help. Michigan State shot 29.0 percent and its starting front line of Delvon Roe, Draymond Green and Adreian Payne shot a combined 3 of 18.
“We have to regroup,” said senior guard Durrell Summers, the only other Spartans player in double figures with 11 points.
Izzo, who was critical of his team after losses to top-ranked Duke, UConn and then-No. 8 Syracuse, hopes Michigan State can get on track in Big Ten play. The Spartans went 14-4 against conference opponents and won a share of the league title last season.
Michigan State, though, has gone 5-5 at home in its last 10 against ranked conference opponents.
“Our best players have to play better,” Izzo said. “We’ll bounce back.”
The Spartans’ recent history against the Golden Gophers at East Lansing appears to give them a good chance to do so. Michigan State has outscored Minnesota 71.5-54.4 in its 11 consecutive home victories in the series.
Minnesota (11-2, 0-1) fell 64-60 at Wisconsin on Tuesday. It played without 6-foot-10 freshman Mo Walker, who suffered a torn knee ligament Dec. 23 and won’t be available to provide an inside presence against the Spartans.
“That’s going to be one of the issues going up against Michigan State,” coach Tubby Smith said. “They’re very talented. They’ve played probably the toughest schedules in the country. We know that we have to play a lot better than we did against Wisconsin.”
Trevor Mbakwe, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds versus the Badgers, leads the Big Ten with eight double-doubles and ranks second in rebounding with 9.9 per game.
Minnesota will have its highest ranking in a matchup with Michigan State since its last victory at the Breslin Center on Jan. 4, 1997, when it was second in the poll.
The Spartans, winners of three straight conference openers, are beginning Big Ten play at home for only the second time in eight seasons.
Minnesota has lost eight of nine to Michigan State, the only victory coming in the Big Ten tournament March 3, 72-67 in overtime.
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