ESPN

JN — A lot has been said about the Spartans’ hopes for the rest of the year. Anyone who is dropping “bubble team,” “seven seed” or — God forbid — “NIT” is crazy. They’re not going to win the Big Ten regular season title. But they’re not going to fizzle out and die. This week is important for them to gain some momentum and get a little payback against two conference foes who knocked them off earlier this season. I expect to see a lot of aggression taken out on the Hawkeyes on Saturday and a bit more scoring than when the teams met in Iowa City.

MSU 78, Iowa 59

SE — I don’t get nervous when the Spartans play at Breslin Center, just as Indiana and Wisconsin fans don’t panic when other Big Ten teams play at their arenas. Trust me, I can’t believe how much this team has dropped off when it comes to road games. It’s frightening, to say the least. But when the Izzone’s bouncing around taunting every individual on Iowa’s team, I have no doubt who will be victorious. This is a game where Raymar goes for the jugular, too. It’s sad a game versus Iowa should be considered revenge, but hey … that’s Big Ten basketball.

MSU 74, Iowa 59

AG — Let’s hope “Magic” Johnson knocked some sense into the team when he made his surprise visit shortly after the loss to Indiana. Also, the men’s predictions are starting to become as hard as the women’s ones were a few weeks ago after dropping games and leaving fans scratching their heads. MSU will win only because it’s a home game, Johnson put some motivation in the guys, and the fans will give them the extra extra (yes, two extras) push they need.

MSU 70, Iowa 61

KJ — This is an open letter to Drew Neitzel and the rest of the team. Dear Drew and company, please stop turning over the ball, or failing that can we only do it 15 times this game? I’d like to see Tom Izzo make it into retirement, and if you keep playing like this you’ll give the poor man a heart attack. Then again, maybe all you needed was a little “Magic.”

MSU 68, Iowa 59

MSU women vs. Purdue

1 p.m. Sunday

ESPN2

JN — The little streak the women’s team has been on is just what head coach Suzy Merchant and her squad needed and deserved. They finally have been able to put all the pieces together. A win at Purdue against one of the perennial best in the league would solidify MSU’s legitimacy and further make their case for an NCAA Tournament berth. I’m back on the bandwagon.

MSU 66, Purdue 59

SE — Things are clicking right now. This team has found itself, in my opinion. As soon as Coach Merchant benched Kalisha Keane because of sloppy, irresponsible play, a message was sent to every individual on the squad. There’s a killer instinct now, something that hasn’t been seen since the Big Ten schedule kicked off. And with Merchant spreading out the minutes, she is creating fresher legs down the stretch. It can only help.

MSU 67, Purdue 58

AG — I flipped a coin to pick the winner and it came up heads — which I assigned to MSU. The women pulled out one of their infamous last-minute victories against Purdue on Feb. 11, and I think they will do it again — especially with their recent road luck. By no means will MSU run away with this game, but Kalisha Keane will shape up and get the job done for her team.

MSU 56, Purdue 55

KJ — Suzy Merchant means business, and it’s that attitude that’s necessary to continue turning this team around. Putting the fear of God into players, benching them when they do wrong and running defensive drills into the ground can help too. And when the women’s team met Purdue on Feb. 11, they were able to tally a victory. It wasn’t pretty and it’s not meant to be. They’ll carry over that momentum to win this game.

MSU 62, Purdue 58

No. 6 MSU hockey vs. No. 1 Michigan

8:05 p.m. tonight/7:05 p.m. Saturday

CSTV/FSN Detroit

JN — Say what you want about U-M’s record and ranking. MSU has the Wolverines’ number. The Spartans should be 2-0 against the skunks this season and will finish the season undefeated against the Maize and Who? A win at a sold-out Munn Ice Arena is guaranteed and the Spartans should feed off the big-game, electric atmosphere at The Joe for the weekend sweep.

MSU 3-1, MSU 2-1

SE — Oooh baby, here we go again. How upset do you think the Wolverines are? How much do you think U-M wants to come into Munn and just put on a show? Those answers are pretty simple. Predicting this pair of games — on the other hand — isn’t. I can’t see MSU going unbeaten against the Wolverines this season, as hard as that is to say. But in East Lansing? Big Blue doesn’t stand a chance.

MSU 4-3, U-M 2-1

AG — This matchup is always a good one, and it’s always a tough call as to who will come out on top. MSU and U-M have been duking it out all season, trading wins, ties and losses. MSU will claim the first one at Munn for sure, but game two at Joe Louis Arena will be a tooth-and-nail battle that will end in a deadlock.

MSU 2-1, Tie

KJ — The last time these two teams met, the Spartans posted a shutout victory in Ann Arbor and a tie at Munn. It’ll be just as tough this time, especially considering Saturday’s game is at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. MSU did not fare well there, placing last in the Great Lakes Invitational, and to skate there again could bring back some upsetting memories. Nevertheless, the Lerg-Crowder-Rowe line will continue to dominate and score the goals in this series.

MSU 3-2, Tie