Photo Credit: Michigan University Athletics

Losers of back to back games, No. 17 Michigan visits newly crowned Big Ten regular season champions, No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday, March 9 at noon, trying to get right before the postseason starts. 

Michigan State should be favored to win the rematch, and it might not be close. They are home, where they are 14-1 this season. They are among the best teams in the nation, at 25-5. The Spartans have the second best point differential in the Big Ten, 11.2, meaning, they outscore their opponents by double digits each game. 

Michigan is seventh in the conference, by comparison, with a 7.7 point differential. Turnovers are killing Michigan this season, and that is something Michigan State will look to capitalize on. The Wolverines are the worst team in the Big Ten in turnovers, averaging 14.4 per game. The Spartans are the sixth best team in assist-to-turnover ratio in the Big Ten, at 1.48. Michigan is second worst (1.12). So look for Michigan State to exceed its average in steals (5.5 per game). 

Both teams rebound the ball well, but Michigan State is better, 40.1 rebounds per game to Michigan’s 38.0. 

Michigan will go into East Lansing as the more desperate team. They have to figure out how to win again if they are going to live up to their talent and succeed in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. Perhaps a run starts Sunday. 

Don’t look for Michigan State to let its guard down, however. Even though he just won his 11th Big Ten regular season title, Tom Izzo is already focused on beating Michigan. 

“For me, am I happy we won the Big Ten? I’m ecstatic,” said Izzo minutes after Michigan State beat Iowa. “… but it’s Michigan week, and we start preparing for them right away.” 

If Michigan can maximize its size, with Vlad Goldin at 7’1” and 250 lbs. and Danny Wolf at 7’0” and 250 lbs., they have a shot; but Michigan State has Jaxson Kohler at 6’9” and 245 lbs. and Carson Cooper at 6’11” and 245 lbs. who have been strong this season. 

Look for Michigan State to outrun Michigan with its depth and quickness unless its shooting goes cold. They rank 11th in field goal percentage in the B1G, at 46.3 percent. If Michigan’s turnover woes prevail and the Spartans get easy buckets, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Prediction: 

Michigan State 75 

Michigan 73