One final regular-season game stands between the Spartans and the postseason. That's right, Sunday marks the final day of the regular season and it also happens to feature the second installment of Michigan vs. Michigan State basketball, this time in East Lansing.
The first matchup in Ann Arbor went the Spartans' way as they pulled away late, 75-62, thanks to elite guard play and neutralizing the Michigan bigs in the final minutes.
Michigan State will look to repeat that even though there's really nothing to play for here other than bragging rights. Other than securing a win and state bragging rights, the most important thing here is that everyone stays healthy. Actually, that is the most important. But a win would be nice, too, extending that lead atop the final Big Ten standings to a whopping three games.
So without further ado, let's get bold.
1. All three seniors score in double figures
This senior day is a little different this season as there is just one guy who has been with the program throughout his college career getting ready to kiss the Spartan logo while the other two seniors transferred in before this season.
But all three will be sent off to a standing ovation, a halfcourt kiss, and, hopefully, a Spartan win.
All three will have a major impact in this one. Szymon Zapala, Jaden Akins, and Frankie Fidler will each score in double figures to cap off their home careers at Michigan State. For Akins, it will be more of a 15-20-point day while Zapala will score 10-plus for the first time since Jan. 3 against Ohio State and for Fidler, it'll be his first double-digit game since Feb. 18 against Purdue. He was scoreless in the first meeting against Michigan, but not this time.
2. Two Coen Carr dunks ignite huge runs
Tom Izzo said it best after a recent win: Coen Carr dunks aren't worth two points, they're worth six because of the impact they have on the team. Well, we'll see that firsthand on Sunday.
With the Spartans fighting off a couple of Michigan runs early as the Wolverines surprisingly keep pace in the first half, a Carr dunk on an alley-oop from Tre Holloman will ignite a 10-0 run that will feel like an early dagger and then when the offense goes cold in the second half for a few minutes, Jase Richardson will find him on the fastbreak and he'll throw down the meanest dunk of the night. That will lead to a 12-2 run for the Spartans, essentially icing the game.
3. Jase Richardson continues his torrid streak with 20-plus
At this point, it might be bolder to say Jase Richardson is going to struggle, but I won't let that ruin my narrative here. Richardson is going to drop 20-plus once again, marking the fourth such occasion in the past nine games. He'll finish with 22 points and show flashes of Cassius Winston with his crossover leading to a stumbling Michigan defender and an open three.
Michigan State wins this game thanks to the effort from the seniors and Richardson, 78-66.
The Spartans will lock up the Big Ten officially by three games and head into the postseason with a 26-5 record and an incredible finish to the regular season.