Michigan -vs- Michigan State: From the Gridiron to the Hardcourt
Thanks to the wonders and brilliance of the Big Ten Conference, Michigan and Michigan State will meet for their only encounter this year (save a possible matchup in the Big Ten Tournament) on Saturday at 12:00PM. The rabid fan bases of the Spartans and Wolverines are denied a home & home series this year as in-state bragging rights will be settled this weekend in East Lansing. While Jim Delaney and his ego would argue otherwise, the expansion of the Big Ten to include powerhouse schools like Rutgers and Maryland have led rivalry games being reduced to single games in a given year.
Much of the talk surrounding college basketball this season has been the Spartan’s talented and loaded roster. Michigan State lost a close game against Duke to start the season but then went on a run that included the PK80 championship. State reached No. 1 in the polls until losing a road game against a surprising Ohio State team. Michigan State is ranked 4th nationally.
Meanwhile, Michigan was playing some of their best basketball coming into last Tuesday’s game against the 5th ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Michigan looked sloppy early on and unable to make anything on consequence. Purdue, however, was dropping everything they threw up. Michigan eventually calmed the storm and came back to take the lead late. With under 30 seconds left and the game tied, Michigan came up the Court and on a drive to the hoop, it appeared that Purdue had knocked the ball out of bounds. An absurd replay lasting nearly five minutes determined that the ball last touched Charles Matthews hand. Purdue was awarded the ball and on their possession, Mo Wagner was called for a foul and Purdue made only one free throw, but it was enough to give them a gritty road win.
I could go on a diatribe against the Big Ten’s officiating (which has been called into question this year), or the review process, or the fact that it took Gene Steratore over four minutes to conclude that the call on the court was indisputably incorrec. All of these grievances are justified - but the reality is that the home loss against Purdue cooled any momentum that Michigan might have been carrying into their most difficult road game of the year. Michigan State is the most talent opponent that Michigan has faced all year - which makes the fact that this in-conference matchup is only going to be played once and at the Breslin Center - even more disappointing.
Michigan State is 6-4 in their last 10 matchups against Michigan. I expect that the Spartans will move that mark to 7-3 after this weekend. The Spartans not only have depth, but they have a level of talent that makes them a legitimate Final Four contender. Michigan will have flashes of brilliance and come on strong with shooting, but Michigan State will play a more physical brand of basketball that the Wolverines will not be able to compete against. Unfortunately, it looks like the in-state rivalry this season is going to go to the Spartans.
Much of the talk surrounding college basketball this season has been the Spartan’s talented and loaded roster. Michigan State lost a close game against Duke to start the season but then went on a run that included the PK80 championship. State reached No. 1 in the polls until losing a road game against a surprising Ohio State team. Michigan State is ranked 4th nationally.
Meanwhile, Michigan was playing some of their best basketball coming into last Tuesday’s game against the 5th ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Michigan looked sloppy early on and unable to make anything on consequence. Purdue, however, was dropping everything they threw up. Michigan eventually calmed the storm and came back to take the lead late. With under 30 seconds left and the game tied, Michigan came up the Court and on a drive to the hoop, it appeared that Purdue had knocked the ball out of bounds. An absurd replay lasting nearly five minutes determined that the ball last touched Charles Matthews hand. Purdue was awarded the ball and on their possession, Mo Wagner was called for a foul and Purdue made only one free throw, but it was enough to give them a gritty road win.
I could go on a diatribe against the Big Ten’s officiating (which has been called into question this year), or the review process, or the fact that it took Gene Steratore over four minutes to conclude that the call on the court was indisputably incorrec. All of these grievances are justified - but the reality is that the home loss against Purdue cooled any momentum that Michigan might have been carrying into their most difficult road game of the year. Michigan State is the most talent opponent that Michigan has faced all year - which makes the fact that this in-conference matchup is only going to be played once and at the Breslin Center - even more disappointing.
Michigan State is 6-4 in their last 10 matchups against Michigan. I expect that the Spartans will move that mark to 7-3 after this weekend. The Spartans not only have depth, but they have a level of talent that makes them a legitimate Final Four contender. Michigan will have flashes of brilliance and come on strong with shooting, but Michigan State will play a more physical brand of basketball that the Wolverines will not be able to compete against. Unfortunately, it looks like the in-state rivalry this season is going to go to the Spartans.
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