Cash Kruth: The Spartans couldn’t ask for a better pick-me-up game than this one. Not only will they handily beat the Nittany Lions behind a career-game from sophomore forward Delvon Roe, but this game also should provide some much-needed rest for junior guard Kalin Lucas and his hobbled right ankle. A quick start from sophomore guard Korie Lucious and junior guard Chris Allen hopefully will allow Lucas to stay on the bench for the majority of the game as MSU cruises to a victory.

MSU 77, Penn State 59

Joey Nowak: All year, I’ve been saying Penn State is good enough to knock off somebody in the Big Ten. The Spartans are hoping it’s not going to be them. MSU has to understand that Talor Battle is going to get his, but the key thing is to not let anyone else beat them. It’s as good a game as any for the Spartans to get back on track and Kalin Lucas to get back to 100 percent.

MSU 82, Penn State 63

Chris Vannini: The Nittany Lions are a jump-shooting team, something that has been giving MSU fits. The Spartans will have to work on their help defense, especially on ball screens up high. If the Nittany Lions had shown a pulse at all during the Big Ten season, I’d give them a chance, but this is the perfect rebound for MSU.

MSU 85, Penn State 65

Matt Bishop: For this week, I shall do all my progs in haiku form.

Spartans need a win

Penn State is so very bad

Please come back Durrell

MSU 77, Penn State 65

Women’s basketball vs. Northwestern

2:30 p.m. Sunday, Big Ten Network

CK: Congrats to Allyssa DeHaan for (more than likley) holding the all-time NCAA blocks record for all of 10 minutes late Thursday night. It’s a shame her name couldn’t be in the record book for longer, but we all know how much she has meant to this program. On Sunday, DeHaan once again will own Northwestern’s Amy Jaeschke, posting yet another double-double in an MSU win.

MSU 59, Northwestern 51

JN: As one would expect, the Spartans slipped up as soon as it appeared they had a good thing going. Coach Suzy Merchant was visibly concerned when she spoke about it this week, so I’d expect the Spartans to bring it at home this weekend. And a special congrats goes out to the beanstalk also known as Allyssa DeHaan, who will go down as one of women’s basketball’s best shot-blockers of all time.

MSU 68, Northwestern 55

CV: The Spartans slipped up against Iowa, but they’ve been playing better overall. Allyssa DeHaan will have a huge game inside as the Spartans stay in contention in the Big Ten race.

MSU 65, Northwestern 60

MB: DeHaan owns Jaeschke

Spartans to maul Northwestern

Six more blocks for Al

MSU 64, Northwestern 52

Ohio State at Illinois

1 p.m. Sunday, CBS

CK: With all due respect to Kalin Lucas, Evan Turner is far and away the best basketball player in the Big Ten. I thought that last year at the Big Ten Tournament and I thought it earlier this season pre-back injury. Now everyone is pegging him as the national player of the year favorite, and it’s about time my favorite player not named Draymond Green gets some pub.

Ohio State 73, Illinois 68

JN: I’ve been saying for weeks that Illinois isn’t for real and doesn’t stand a chance down the stretch. Then, all they did was go into Madison, Wis., to become the first nonranked Big Ten team to beat Bo Ryan on Wisconsin’s floor. For those of you who are wondering, crow tastes horrible. Still, I don’t think the Illini have the horses to withstand their brutal schedule to end the conference season. Their letdown comes Sunday against the Buckeyes.

Ohio State 77, Illinois 73

CV: I am waiting for Illinois to break and fall out of the Big Ten race. But Tuesday’s win in Madison just made the race more jumbled. Assembly Hall surely will be rocking again, but Evan Turner and the Buckeyes have been rolling. Turner’s versatility will be the difference as he will record a triple-double.

Ohio State 75, Illinois 70

MB: Dear Evan Turner

Love and basketball don’t mix

Dump Prahalis now

Illinois 74, Ohio State 69