Michigan State is trying to stay on top of the Big Ten standings. Michigan is fighting to get there.
The two men’s basketball teams will meet on Saturday in East Lansing. It is their first meeting of the season. The Jan. 8 game in Ann Arbor didn’t happen due to Michigan’s COVID-19 outbreak. That contest has not yet been rescheduled.
Michigan is coming off a home win over Northwestern on Wednesday. The Wolverines led by 11 early in the second half but trailed by seven with five minutes left. They executed down the stretch for a 72-70 victory.
Michigan State was on the other end of a one-possession game, losing 56-55 at Illinois on Tuesday.
Saturday’s matchup, on paper, looks like a good one. Both Michigan’s offense and Michigan State’s defense rank 21st in the country in adjusted efficiency, per kenpom.com. The Spartans hit the offensive glass and shoot well from 3; Michigan cleans up the defensive glass and defends well on the perimeter.
Both teams feature graduate transfer point guards from smaller programs, start a five-star freshman on the wing, and have good size inside.
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard, in his third season, is 2-2 against Tom Izzo. The home team has won all four meetings.
Game Information
Who: Michigan Wolverines (10-7, 4-3) at No. 10 Michigan State Spartans (15-4, 6-2)
Where: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Michigan); capacity: 14,797
When: Saturday, January 29, 12:32 p.m. ET
Point spread: Michigan State -4.5
Tickets: Sold out
Follow: Andrew Kahn
How to Watch
TV: CBS (Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel)
Stream: Watch & DVR College Basketball Live | fuboTV: Stream live TV with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN & top channels without cable. DVR included. Start watching free. No contract, cancel anytime.
WatchESPN | Hulu + Live TV | Sling | YouTube TV
How to Listen
U-M: Ann Arbor: WTKA-1050 AM | Detroit: WWJ-950 AM | MGoBlue.com (Brian Boesch, Terry Mills)
MSU: Lansing: WJIM-1240 AM/WMMQ- 94.9 FM | Detroit: WJR-760 AM | MSUSpartans.com
Satellite radio: U-M: Sirius: 384 | XM: 384 | SXM App: 974; MSU: Sirius: 195 | XM: 195 | SXM App: 957
Pregame Video
Michigan-Michigan State preview
Pregame Reading
What’s at stake for Michigan and Michigan State in Saturday’s rivalry game
Michigan preparing for Michigan State, ‘10x’ Breslin Center crowd
Michigan State preparing for different Michigan team compared to three weeks ago
Earlier this season, Michigan would have lost that game. What’s changed?
Malik Hall has become Michigan State’s ‘stabilizer’
