MSU found the perfect practice squad on Saturday to get ready for No. 1 Illinois.

The Spartans (14-3) brought Oakland (5-13) to Breslin Center for a rare, nonconference outing as the No. 15 Spartans tried to work out some kinks before facing the undefeated Fighting Illini in a nationally televised game on Tuesday.

Objective one:

Break senior guard Chris Hill out of his shooting slump.

Although Hill did score in double digits for the first time in eight games, it took 13 shots for 13 points, as he shot 30.7 percent from the field. It was a performance that had MSU head coach Tom Izzo shaking his head after the game.

"It's more mental, he's been through a lot," Izzo said. "He'll shoot his way out of it. He's been a terrific shooter since probably seventh grade. Hopefully, it will come back."

Hill said he did gain some confidence, and now it's just a matter of hitting the shots.

"I feel a little better from the standpoint that the shots I didn't make were right there where as before I felt a little out of sync," Hill said.

Objective two:

Rest junior center Paul Davis.

Davis played on Thursday against Michigan despite a hurt left ankle. On Saturday, he sat out for the first time in 81 consecutive games.

Davis was able to practice on Sunday and said his ankle felt "surprisingly good."

"My ankle feels good, today was another day of rest and recovery," Davis said. "I think the situation will work out for the best.

But without Davis, the Spartans' inside-out game suffered as few shots were created by passing the ball into the post players, Izzo said.

Objective three:

Shoot the ball better.

After not shooting the ball better at Minnesota or against Michigan, MSU needed to get back on track.

The Spartans got more than 60 shots for the first time since Jan. 8 against Northwestern. But they settled for 31 3-pointers and didn't attack the basket against the zone defense, Izzo said.

Izzo said he wanted to attack the baseline more, which the Spartans were able to do including a sophomore guard Shannon Brown dunk in the second half.

Objective four:

Gain confidence.

The Spartans struggled shooting, although the box score shows they shot 50 percent from the field and racked up 92 points. In a reversal of a impressive defense game against U-M, MSU let up 75 points - only the third time this season the Spartans allowed more than 70 points.

"We wanted to feel really good about ourselves heading in and we don't have quite that feeling," Hill said.

MSU has two days of practice for possibly the biggest game at Breslin in years. And to compare the Fighting Illini to the Spartans, Oakland head coach Greg Kampe offered some analysis.

"Illinois is the best team we've ever played," Kampe said of the Nov. 24, 85-54 loss. "Does that mean Michigan State won't beat them Tuesday? No, I bet you Michigan State beats them, it's pretty hard to go undefeated.

"I've just never seen a team as unselfish and they have three lottery picks."