Michigan State vs Maryland preview, prediction, odds and more
Take a look at the preview, prediction and everything else you need to know for Saturday’s Michigan State vs Maryland game.
The last meeting between No. 2 Michigan State and No. 18 Maryland came at a very different point in time. It was the beginning of Big Ten play and the Spartans were already struggling, coming off a third straight loss and desperate for answers. Maryland, a top-10 team at the time, came to town and the Spartans responded with a huge 74-65 win.
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Michigan State ended its slump against the Terrapins that night and the Breslin Center was rocking with the new ‘Mean Green’ look. This was just the win Michigan State needed to get back on track and since then, it has won 11-of-12 games, demolishing every team in sight.
Maryland, on the other hand, has headed in the opposite direction, going from Big Ten regular season favorite to third-seed in a matter of weeks. The Terrapins are still very dangerous, as they showed on Friday night in a throttling of Nebraska.
Details for Saturday’s Michigan State vs Maryland game are below:
Date: Saturday, March 12
Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Stadium: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV Info: CBS
Live Stream: CBS College Basketball Live
Radio: For Maryland radio affiliates, click here. For Michigan State radio affiliates, click here.
Three Keys to Victory
- Perimeter defense. The hard work paid off against Ohio State as the Spartans’ perimeter defense was much improved from the first two meetings. Against Maryland, though, it needs to be even better.
- Bodying without fouling. Playing against Robert Carter, Jake Layman and Diamond Stone in the post, Michigan State’s bigs will have their hands full. Getting a body on them and forcing contested shots without fouling will be a top priority.
- Balanced offense. Watching Michigan State’s starting five play as balanced as they have all year against Ohio State, that seemed to be working tremendously. If the points can be spread out evenly again with no one slacking, MSU will have a victory in hand.
Three Storylines to Follow
- Triple-double watch? Game in and game out we see Denzel Valentine approach the triple-double mark, but he seems to constantly come a couple of rebounds and assists short. Can he finally record his third of the year?
- Eron Harris involvement. Eron Harris was a key player for the Spartans against the Buckeyes Friday night, he could play another pivotal role for MSU against Maryland on Saturday afternoon.
- Fatigue. Could fatigue play a factor in the second game of the weekend for Michigan State? It will be interesting to see how the Spartans respond to playing two days in a row. It could be very telling for their potential NCAA Tournament success.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Michigan State -3
Maryland Players to Watch
- Melo Trimble — 14.4 points, 5.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 43% FG shooting
- Rasheed Sulaimon — 11.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 44% 3-point shooting
- Robert Carter — 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 56% FG shooting
- Diamond Stone — 12.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 56% FG shooting
- Jake Layman — 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 50% FG shooting
Prediction
Earlier before the Big Ten Tournament even began, I had predicted the Spartans to face off against the Terrapins in the semifinals and come a bit short. I’m going to be a man of my word and stick to my prediction as it will be tough to beat this talented Maryland team twice this year. Out of all Big Ten squads, the Terrapins worry me the most and have the best chance for a Final Four run.
Final Score: Maryland 74, Michigan State 71