Michigan State vs Michigan basketball game predictions: Can U-M match Izzo’s experience?

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One of the best rivalries in college basketball is back in a big way.

Michigan and Michigan State basketball are set for a massive showdown at Crisler Center on Friday night (8 p.m., Fox), with first place in the Big Ten standings on the line.

In East Lansing, Tom Izzo has led the Spartans on a fun, somewhat surprising run through the first 26 games, posting a 21-5 record after a big disappointment last year following massive offseason hype. The Spartans find themselves back within striking distance of first place in the conference after dropping three of four games and then responding with huge wins at Illinois and at home vs. Purdue.

The Wolverines, meanwhile, are experiencing one of the best year-over-year turnarounds that we’ve seen in college basketball. Michigan won just eight games last year and can triple that total with four more wins over the final six games. Dusty May brought in a whole new cast of players and despite the group’s inexperience playing as a team, the Wolverines have time and time again flown past expectations.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo sits during warmups before a game against the USC Trojans at Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.

Michigan enters the game having won six games in a row (all by four points or less), while the Spartans are arguably coming off their two biggest wins of the year.

Here is what our experts think might happen with everything on the line Friday in Ann Arbor:

NEXT GAME UP: Michigan State continues tough week vs Wolverines. Tom Izzo wouldn’t want it any other way

Tony Garcia

Michigan State is more physical and has the knowledge of the rivalry. Michigan has the two most imposing players on the floor and a roster and coaching staff that believe. There’s a chance that U-M just doesn’t know enough about this moment and that Tom Izzo and Co., who’ve done it for decades, show them a thing or two. Then again, U-M has shown time and again this year that it has the goods. Somehow, someway, it happens again….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/michigan-state-vs-michigan-basketball-110723631.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-02-21 11:07:00

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