Michigan State basketball hosts new-look Indiana: Prediction

EAST LANSING — Tom Izzo still doesn’t know what to make of the Big Ten this season.

After a wild couple of days, it appears as open as ever. as does the opportunity for Michigan State basketball to repeat as regular-season champion.

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“I said in the middle of December, we’d know something. We kind of did. In the middle of January, do we know much more?” the Spartans coach said after practice Sunday, Jan 11. “You see so many teams getting beat and not getting beat. I think parity is at an all-time [high].”

Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo talks to the team during the first half against Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Only two unbeatens remain in Big Ten play, with the 12th-ranked Spartans (14-2, 4-1) among three teams with one loss. To maintain pace in the competitive conference race requires continuing to win at home as MSU hosts Indiana (12-4, 3-2) on Tuesday (7 p.m., Peacock).

Here’s what to watch for in the first of two meetings between the Spartans and new-look Hoosiers.

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A reputation for Jeremy Fears Jr.

Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left, collides with Northwestern’s Jayden Reid during the first half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

There was a definitive pivot point in MSU’s 76-66 victory over Northwestern on Thursday, as the slow start was followed by a focused finish from Jeremy Fears Jr.

The third-year sophomore point guard got into early foul trouble with two blocking calls going against him and sat for nearly nine minutes of his scoreless first half.

“The thing is, you gotta be smart about how you do it,” he said. “You still kind of gotta play with that aggressive mindset, but also just be a little more smart at the same time, which is hard. That’s why you know usually if you get one, anything can happen.”

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Nearing the midway point of the second half, Fears was knocked to the ground with no call in front of the his bench….

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Publish date : 2026-01-13 10:06:00

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