Tied atop Big Ten standings, Michigan basketball ‘100%’ keeping an eye on Michigan State

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On the gridiron, Michigan football makes absolutely no bones about it.

The Wolverines prepare 365 days a year for Ohio State, also known as “That Team Down South,” even as they get ready for other opponents on their schedule.

On the hardwood, however, there’s little doubt the Buckeyes drop to rival No. 2 for Michigan basketball, well behind the top foe: Michigan State.

Michigan guard Tre Donaldson (3) talks to head coach Dusty May during the first half against Iowa at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

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Tom Izzo is in his 30th season atop the Spartans program, with more than a decade before that as an assistant in East Lansing. May, meanwhile, has been in Ann Arbor for only three-quarters of a year. But he knows the history of the rivalry, having seen it during his days at Indiana and Eastern Michigan.

So, yes, he has been paying attention to what the Spartans have been doing.

“100%,” May said Monday morning when asked if he has kept tabs on the in-state foe. “Keep an eye on everyone in the Big Ten. Obviously we bump into them in recruiting, we hear about them a lot and they’re obviously playing at a high, high level right now, so we’re going to hear about them more.”

Michigan State (14-2, 5-0 Big Ten) has won nine games in a row to remain only other undefeated team in Big Ten play and checked in at No. 14 Monday in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. U-M, winners of five in a row, is No. 19 having topped former Pac-12 schools UCLA and Washington by double digits last week.

As May said Monday, “the computers” really like Michigan, which comes in at No. 8 in Bart Torvik’s rankings, No. 10 in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings and No. 11 in the NCAA’s preferred NET rankings, well above their rank from the coaches. Michigan State, meanwhile, is No. 14 in KenPom and NET and No. 15 per Torvik, all slightly below where they sit its No. 12 ranking from the coaches.

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