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Michigan State Basketball: 5 keys to victory over Michigan in season finale

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans and his teammates prepare to play the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans and his teammates prepare to play the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball is set to face off in its biggest rivalry game in the past two decades with a Big Ten title on the line versus No. 7 Michigan.

Not many believed the first matchup between Michigan and Michigan State would turn out the way it did, especially with Nick Ward sidelined and the Spartans already down Josh Langford.

However, this team showed enough grit on the road to beat the No. 6 Wolverines in surprising fashion, 77-70. It was one of the best regular season wins in Tom Izzo’s career and it helped keep the Spartans in the race for the Big Ten regular season title.

Michigan comes to East Lansing on Saturday evening with even more on the line. The Spartans, ranked No. 9, are hosting the seventh-ranked Wolverines with a Big Ten title on the line. The winner earns at least a share of the crown and gets the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament while the loser could get either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

What do the Spartans need to do in order to take down Michigan again?

5. Winning the battle on the boards

Often times this season, Michigan State has struggled to rebound the ball, especially with keeping teams off the offensive glass, and that’s led to some stunning defeats, such as both losses to Indiana. Winning the rebounding battle against Michigan will not only limit the Wolverines’ second-chance opportunities, but will get the Spartans out in the fast-break where they’re comfortable.

Michigan State needs to keep Jon Teske off the glass as he hurt the Spartans early on with some boards, but they ultimately won the rebounding battle and that’s what helped win the game.

Kenny Goins will need to reach about 8-10 rebounds and the same goes for Xavier Tillman while Aaron Henry and Matt McQuaid will have to crash, too, while holding Michigan to 5-7 offensive boards or less.

This needs to be a team effort because you know the Wolverines are going to give everything they have to make sure they win the rebounding battle against an aggressive MSU team.

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