Tom Izzo, Michigan State basketball look to extend 22-game streak against Greg Kampe, Oakland

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EAST LANSING – Almost every year, right around this time, Tom Izzo laments his decision.

Yes, the holiday season remains about giving, and Izzo and Michigan State basketball have given Greg Kampe and Oakland ample opportunities to play the blueblood over the past 25-plus years. The Spartans helped open the O’Rena back in 1998 the first time they met, then ventured to Auburn Hills and Detroit as well as of course welcoming the Golden Grizzlies to campus almost annually.

So far, MSU owns a sterling 22-0 record against its sister school.

So when Izzo second-guesses his scheduling of Oakland, it’s half tongue-in-cheek. But also half that he knows someday, the Grizzlies will break through and get their long-anticipated win over the Spartans.

“As we all know, whether they’ve been really good – which they have some – or not as good, the game has always been a very difficult game. So there’s much respect there,” Izzo said after practice Friday. “I don’t know why I keep doing it. I keep saying that, but I do enjoy going to Detroit to play. I do enjoy (Kampe) a lot, and I do respect their program.”

Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, left, talks with Oakland’s head coach Greg Kampe before the game on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

No. 19 MSU (8-2, 2-0 Big Ten) and Oakland (3-5, 1-1 Horizon League) will meet Tuesday night for the 23rd time. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena (ESPN2).

It’s part of a three-game holiday break for the Spartans, who host Florida Atlantic on Dec. 21 and Western Michigan on Dec. 30 before resuming Big Ten play Jan. 3 at Ohio State. Neither team has played in 10 days, since MSU’s 37-point home blowout win over Nebraska and the Grizzlies’ 16-point road loss at Youngstown State, both on Dec. 7.

The Spartans beat the Golden Grizzlies at Breslin Center last season, 79-62, on Dec. 18, 2023. That was two days after MSU, 10 games into its 20-15 season, got back to .500 at Little Caesars Arena with a 22-point,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-izzo-michigan-state-basketball-115238479.html

Author : Lansing State Journal

Publish date : 2024-12-17 11:52:00

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