As the MSU men’s basketball team prepares to earn in the conference’s top honor, they first must take care of business against one of the Big Ten’s worst.
Penn State (11-17 overall, 3-13 Big Ten) is the next team standing in the way of the Spartans clinching a share of back-to-back Big Ten titles. No. 11 MSU (22-7, 12-4) has lost two straight home games and has not walked off Breslin Center floor victorious since Jan. 30.
It appears the Spartans are fully healthy and might have found the chemistry and spark needed after Sunday’s win at then-No. 3 Purdue. To continue their roll, they’ll have to stop the Nittany Lions, who boast one of the Big Ten’s top scorers and have won three of their last four.
Here is a breakdown of Thursday’s game (7 p.m. on ESPN2):
Frontcourt
The Nittany Lions caught sophomore forward Draymond Green in the middle of one of his worst slumps of the season in MSU’s 65-54 win on Feb. 13 in University Park, Pa. He’s come along since then, while freshman center Derrick Nix got some solid minutes against Purdue. With sophomore forward Delvon Roe playing through a bum knee, Penn State’s weak frontcourt will give the Spartans an opportunity to get some kinks out.
Advantage: MSU
Backcourt
There is no player with more individual responsibility and value to his team in the Big Ten than Talor Battle. Although Ohio State has other threats beyond National Player of the Year favorite Evan Turner, the Nittany Lions have little talent beyond their junior guard. Battle is the team’s leader in points, rebounds and assists and can connect from most anywhere on the floor. The MSU guards know they’ll have their hands full.
Advantage: Even
Bench
It’s simple. Green, MSU’s sixth man and most versatile player, went 0-for-7 on Feb. 13 and finished with two points. Still, the Spartans’ bench outscored the Nittany Lions 13-1. MSU’s second five likely would give Penn State’s starting five a run for its money.
Advantage: MSU
Coaching
Does Ed DeChellis have enough to keep the Nittany Lions rolling, having won three out of four after starting conference play 0-12? Can Tom Izzo keep the Spartans focused taking on the last-place team after knocking off the first-place team on its home floor? Having lost home games down the stretch with a Big Ten title on the line is in the past, expect Izzo to keep the Spartans zoned in.
Advantage: MSU
Intangibles
The easiest thing for the Spartans would be to put it on cruise control for Thursday’s game and look ahead to Sunday’s Senior Day showdown against rival Michigan. Having just beaten Purdue, the Spartans are on an emotional high. Having had four days of rest, they could come out flat or they could come out fully energized. Penn State, meanwhile, is playing its best basketball of the season and Battle can go off for 30-plus on any given night.
Advantage: Push
Prediction: MSU 78, Penn State 56
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