MSU continues its road odyssey at No. 23 Purdue on Sunday, and the matchup between two of the Big Ten's top teams isn't likely to come down to shooting, turnovers or even defense.
"The toughest team's going to win, hands down," junior swingman Alan Anderson said. "They're one of the toughest teams we're going to play this year."
The Spartans (8-7 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) are riding high after extending their season-high three-game winning streak at Northwestern on Wednesday. It also was the team's first road win of the season.
MSU will get a chance to extend both streaks against Purdue (13-4, 3-1), but this time the stage is bigger. The two teams are tied with Wisconsin and Indiana for first place in the conference.
Though the stakes are high, it is too early for MSU to put too much emphasis on the outcome of the game because it is still early in the Big Ten season, junior guard Chris Hill said.
This is MSU's second of three Big Ten road games straight. The Spartans' winning streak has improved their confidence, but senior center Jason Andreas said the constant traveling could be a factor in Sunday's game.
"We traveled some during the preseason, but it doesn't really compare to the traveling during your conference schedule," he said. "Especially in the Big Ten. Games are a little more physical. The games mean a little more when you're in your conference season. You got to prepare a little more.
"So it's not only physically draining just to travel, it's mentally draining as well."
Historically, Purdue has historically played the Spartans tight. Last season, the teams each won a game during the conference season and MSU beat the Boilermakers when they met in the Big Ten Tournament.
Andreas said one reason the two teams compete so hard is the similarities between Purdue coach Gene Keady and MSU coach Tom Izzo.
"We are similar teams," Andreas said. "We both rely on defense, we both rely on toughness, rebounding."
Izzo said Purdue's consistent defense, year after year, has allowed them to play everybody close.
"Realistically, 21 out of 25 years, they've been solid defensively, and this year's team is no different," Izzo said. "They are just never out of many games, even when they weren't very good."
This season, Purdue has been more than solid on the defensive end. It ranks second in the conference in scoring defense, giving up only 59.2 points per game.
Senior guard Kenneth Lowe has paced the Boilermakers. He's averaging a team-high 13.9 points a game and is shooting 39.7 percent from behind the three-point line.
Keady, too, expects toughness to play a large part in Sunday's outcome.
"They're like a wounded bear," he said. "They're a little ticked off, they're getting not a very good record. You're playing a group of guys that's mad, want to win and they're going to do it because they're very determined."
