Happy Hate Day to all those who celebrate. Michigan and Michigan State basketball will be throwing down at the Breslin Center late on Friday night to decide who has state bragging rights, and who belongs atop the Big Ten standings.
Right now, both teams are tied atop the Big Ten with 9-1 records, and Michigan State has an opportunity to pull one game ahead (which is huge this year) with a win on Friday.
All eyes will be on East Lansing as the two teams duke it out in this top-10 battle.
And here’s where the Spartans may have some key advantages.
1. Players who have experienced the rivalry
Michigan does have a few guys who have seen how intense this rivalry is, and both Roddy Gayle and Nimari Burnett have told their teammates that this is the most physical game they’ll ever play in. It’s easy to say that, but it’s another thing to live it — especially at the Breslin Center. Michigan State has more players who have lived it.
The Spartans have guys like Jeremy Fears, Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, and Coen Carr who have played several games against Michigan, and they’ve won four straight. Even Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch have seen the game firsthand.
Having experience in this rivalry game is important, and Michigan State has more of that.
2. Tom Izzo
Michigan State has the coaching advantage in this one. While Dusty May has proven to be a really good coach and potentially one of the top five in the country right now, Tom Izzo is still one of the greatest of all time and his knowledge of the rivalry and experience in this game is going to serve him well.
It’s also his birthday. If you don’t think he’s going to coach harder than he’s ever coached before so he can secure a rivalry win on his birthday instead of being sent home to “celebrate” after a heartbreaking loss, you must not know Izzo very well.
Izzo has won two straight against May, and four straight overall against Michigan, and he’s going to make sure that becomes five straight on Friday.
As long as Michigan doesn’t run a 40-minute zone, I like his chances to out-coach May.
3. Defense
It’s not by much, but Michigan State has a defensive advantage over the Wolverines. These two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 on KenPom in terms of defensive rating, but Michigan State’s scoring defense has been much better than Michigan’s lately.
Michigan has given up over 70 points in six of its past seven games while Michigan State has surrendered 70-plus just one time since the Cornell game a month ago. In that span, the Spartans have also only surrendered over 65 points twice. On the year, Michigan State holds opponents to 63.5 points per game while Michigan gives up a little over 68.
Being at home, feeding off the crowd, and suffocating the Wolverines on the defensive end should be the perfect recipe for success in this top-10 rivalry showdown.