Michigan State basketball vs. Oakland tipoff: Matchup analysis and a prediction

• What: Michigan State vs. Oakland

• When: Noon, Saturday

• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

• TV/Radio: Big Ten Network/Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; SiriusXM Ch. 195

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• Records/Rankings: MSU is 10-1 and ranked No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches poll, No. 10 in the NET rankings used by the NCAA tournament selection committee, and No. 11 per the college basketball analytics site Kenpom.com. Oakland is 6-6 and unranked by both major polls. The Golden Grizzlies are No. 135 in the NET rankings and 151 per Kenpom.

• Betting line: None available yet

• Coaches: Michigan State — Tom Izzo is 746-303 in his 31st season as a head coach, all with the Spartans. Oakland — Greg Kampe is 721-561 in his 42nd season as a head coach, all with the Golden Grizzlies.

• Series: MSU leads 23-0 all-time. The programs have met 14 straight seasons.

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Projected lineups

MSU

C (15) Carson Cooper (6-11) 10.1

PF (0) Jaxon Kohler (6-9) 14.0

SF (55) Coen Carr (6-5) 10.6

SG (99) Divine Ugochukwu (6-3) 5.5

PG (1) Jeremy Fears Jr. (6-2) 11.5

Oakland

F (12) Tuburu Naivalurua (6-8) 13.5

C (32) Isaac Garrett (6-8) 15.2

F (6) Michael Houge (6-7) 14.5

G (2) Ziare Wells (6-6) 10.1

PG (55) Brody Robinson (5-11) 16.3

• MSU update: The Spartans, coming off a 92-69 win over Toledo on Tuesday night, face Oakland in their final game before a break for Christmas. MSU has now won 20 straight games against mid- and low-major opponents, dating back to an opening night loss to James Madison on Nov. 6, 2023. The Spartans have never lost to Oakland, but have four times won this matchup by six points or less, meeting every season but one since 2005.

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MSU’s once-poor 3-point shooting has come around. The Spartans are making 36.5% of their 3-point shots this season. That’s in the top 20% of Division I college basketball. They remain elite defensively — fifth nationally in defensively efficiency, per Kenpom — and on…

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Publish date : 2025-12-19 00:00:00

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