Welcome back, Izzone. After being gone for a month, the regular Izzone is back just in time for a huge Michigan State basketball showdown against Indiana.
The Hoosiers are fresh off a devastating home loss to Nebraska after leading by 16 in the second half, while Michigan State just beat Northwestern by 10 in a sloppy game.
Let’s get bold ahead of Tuesday’s showdown between Big Ten blue-bloods.
1. Kur Teng scores a career-high
Tom Izzo has basically been begging for a two-guard to step up, and that’s why Divine Ugochukwu has earned a spot in the starting lineup. I do think that Kur Teng is starting to really come around as an all-around player, and I could see him taking that starting spot back by the end of the season.
On Tuesday night, that quest will be strengthened by a career game.
Teng will score a career-high against the Hoosiers, topping his previous best of 15 points against Kentucky back in November. I see Teng getting hot from three and finishing with 17 points. I have been like 0-for-1,000 on single player bold predictions, so I think I’m due.
2. Jeremy Fears Jr. records his first 2026 double-double
It’s hard to believe that Jeremy Fears Jr. doesn’t have a double-double yet in 2026, but that’s going to change on Tuesday night. He’ll finish with 14 points and some clutch shots down the stretch like he had against Northwestern, but he’ll crack double-digit assists for the first time in two weeks.
Fears finishes with 14 points and 11 assists, really putting the offense on his back. He’ll also only turn the ball over two times.
3. MSU records its fourth double-digit Big Ten win
Michigan State has beaten its past two Big Ten opponents by 10-plus points, and that’ll become three in a row on Tuesday night. This home stand has been nice to the Spartans so far, and they’ll conjure up more momentum before heading out west for a two-game road trip.
The Spartans have three double-digit wins in Big Ten play already this year (Iowa, USC, Northwestern), and that’s going to become four against Indiana.
The Hoosiers will hang around for a while, but some big threes late by Jaxon Kohler and Kur Teng will put Indiana on the ropes before Michigan State delivers the knock-out punch with some Fears free throws in the closing seconds to win by double figures, 77-66.