Trice, freshman guard Branden Dawson and senior guard Brandon Wood — all playing the Wolverines for the first time — struggled in the first matchup less than a month ago. Although Trice admitted he and his fellow first-year Spartans might have been overwhelmed, he said that won’t be a problem when the two teams meet again Sunday (1 p.m., CBS) at Breslin Center.

“Now you already know what to expect,” Trice said. “You always try to approach every game the same and value it the same, but this is at another level.

“Our focus as a team is at a higher level, especially our freshmen now that we know about the rivalry.”

The No. 9 Spartans (17-5 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) have dropped the last three matchups with the No. 23 Wolverines (17-6, 7-3), including when senior forward Draymond Green missed a potential game-winning shot as time expired earlier this season.

Since that Jan. 17 meeting, each team is 2-1 in Big Ten play. Michigan rolls into East Lansing after beating No. 20 Indiana at home, while MSU is coming off a 42-41 loss at Illinois.

The Wolverines are tied with Wisconsin for second place in the Big Ten standings — one half game ahead of the Spartans. With both teams in striking distance of first-place Ohio State (7-2 Big Ten), MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Sunday’s game is crucial in the conference race.

However, he said that’s not what is on his mind as he prepares his team for U-M.

“We all know it’s a big game, and it’s a big game for a million reasons,” Izzo said. “But probably the biggest is because of the rivalry. The standings and all that take care of themselves.”

If the Spartans hope to beat the Wolverines for the first time in three tries — and improve their chances at a Big Ten title — they likely will have to do a better job on U-M freshman point guard Trey Burke. Scoring 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting, Burke was a key for the Wolverines in the last matchup.

Sophomore guard Keith Appling was expected to check Burke the first time but ran into early foul trouble. Appling said he knows he needs to avoid similar problems Sunday, but he said that’s not his main focus.

“Depending on who we have on the floor at the time, I may be on him, I may not,” Appling said. “I’m really not thinking too much about that. I’m worried about the game itself and trying to come out with a win.”

MSU also will have to deal defend U-M’s frequent four-guard lineups with a hobbled Green. Leaving the loss to Illinois early with what turned out to be a sprained left knee, Green might be a step slow against the Wolverines.

Still, when it comes to the Spartans defending U-M, Appling said the more guards the better.

“It works in our favor because we’re going to be able to do a lot of switching, and it’s not going to hurt us,” Appling said. “I feel like by them playing four guards, it’s going to work into our hands.

Green, who scored only seven points in the first meeting, said he expects to be ready to lead the Spartans on Sunday. And after the Wolverines held him to seven points on 3-for-8 shooting in the first meeting, he also said he is taking a better approach to the rematch.

“I got them figured out,” Green said. “I’ve watched a lot of film of them doubling everybody else, I’ve watched a lot of film on them double, triple teaming me. So I definitely got them figured out.”

Perhaps more importantly, MSU’s newcomers have figured out what it means to play Michigan. And because of that, Green, who called the rivalry personal before the first game, said he doesn’t have to get the young players excited to play the Wolverines.

“If you need any extra motivation for Michigan, then you don’t need to be here,” Green said. “That’s what it’s all about. They hate us, we hate them. They might dislike us, but we hate them.

“I don’t think there’s any extra motivation needed.”