John Beilein: Michigan vs Michigan State basketball rivalry better than UNC-Duke

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For years, more than a decade, Michigan State was a thorn in the side of Michigan basketball coach John Beilein.

Beilein, the the Hall of Famer who spent 13 years in Ann Arbor and led the program to nine NCAA tournament appearances and two national championship games, had his fair share of success, going 9-14 vs. Tom Izzo’s MSU. But he knew every time he saw the Spartans, his team was going to be for a tough battle.

However, speaking with the Free Press earlier this week on an episode of the “Hail Yes,” podcast, Beilein doubled down on the magnitude of the rivalry and just where he thinks it ranks among the greatest in the sport.

“I contend, and I’ve said this so many times, so much — because of Dickie V, etc. — is made because of North Carolina and Duke every year, this huge matchup, last game of the season — there’s not a better atmosphere than Michigan-Michigan State,” Beilein, U-M’s winningest coach of all-time, said. “Same state, same league. We’re 1-2 and I think Michigan and Michigan State is No. 1 in this type of intensity and atmosphere that you see, I’m sure it’s around at North Carolina and Duke, but not like this one. I don’t think it is.

“This is two state schools, it’s great to see them both when they’re top-10 teams like it was in the last few years of my coaching career.”

Michigan head coach John Beilein and Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo chat before the game Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The schools met as ranked foes for 11 of those 23 matchups, while five games coming when both squads were ranked in the top 10, which included all three matchups in the 2018-19 season, Beilein’s last in Ann Arbor (MSU won all three contests).

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Michigan blew out MSU 86-57 in Ann Arbor on Feb. 7, 2017 behind four players in double figures, while MSU’s most lopsided win over U-M in the Beilein era came Feb. 12, 2013, when the Spartans…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/john-beilein-michigan-vs-michigan-193900732.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-01-31 19:39:00

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