Guards

MSU sophomore point guard Kalin Lucas and Penn State sophomore guard Talor Battle are two of the most dynamic players in the conference. While one can expect those two to go blow for blow, a lot will depend on their backcourt mates. Penn State has the more consistent threat at shooting guard in Stanley Pringle (14.4 ppg, 50 percent from three-point), but MSU has two guys in the sophomore guard duo of Chris Allen and Durrell Summers who can put up high numbers at any time. Senior guard Travis Walton provides solid defense and vocal leadership for the Spartans, while Penn State fifth-year senior Danny Morrissey comes in off the bench with his veteran leadership.

Advantage — Push

Forwards/centers

Similar to the backcourt, both teams have some impressive playmakers down low that rank among the league’s best. Penn State forward Jamelle Cornley (14.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) has been dominating Big Ten play, leading the Nittany Lions in scoring in three of the past four games, including a game high 26 points against the Spartans on Jan. 14. Alongside Cornley, Andrew Jones (5.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and David Jackson (4.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) also provide a solid contribution.

For MSU, senior center Goran Suton has been as consistent as ever, posting 11.3 points and 9.9 rebounds a game in Big Ten play prior to Thursday’s game against Iowa. The Spartans success will hang on whether or not junior forward Raymar Morgan can fight off a virus that has been bothering him for two weeks.

Advantage — MSU

Bench

Allen, Summers and senior forward Marquise Gray all have crazy athleticism, freshman guard Korie Lucious can arguably be the quickest player on the court and freshman forward Draymond Green and senior center Idong Ibok also can affect the game’s outcome.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions bring a couple of solid rebounders (David Jackson and Jeff Brooks) off the bench, along with the veteran Morrissey.

Advantage — MSU

Intangibles

The Nittany Lions showed a lot of stones coming back from a 17-point deficit the last time these two teams played. Likewise, the Spartans bounced back from their upset loss to Northwestern with an impressive win at Ohio State. In the end, the game will be played at Breslin Center, which gives the Spartans the edge.

Advantage — MSU

Coaches

By going out and getting players such as Battle and Cornely, Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis is slowly trying to prove that basketball can at least be viewed as somewhat important on Joe Paterno’s turf at a football-crazy school. For as much credit as DeChellis gets, there aren’t many coaches who can put up a fight in this category against MSU head coach Tom Izzo.

Advantage — MSU