“We accomplished a lot of things in the regular season,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said on Tuesday. “We’re excited about the Big Ten tournament. The hardest part about this tournament is that when you get a bye, it’s always a worry because the team who played the night before usually has momentum. UCLA is playing better than they were earlier in the year. ”

On Feb. 17, MSU won its matchup against UCLA 82-59. It was a game where the Spartans showcased a lethal right hook that left the Bruins stunned. MSU converted 14 three-pointers, tallied 34 rebounds and played good defense. Former Spartan forward Xavier Booker was held to only 2 points. 

It was a game that proved MSU was the better team. But in March, the better team doesn’t always win.

UCLA is a good team. It would have to be in order to play this deep in the Big Ten tournament. Highlighted by striking guard play and fast pace basketball, the Bruins are a team that can bury their opponents in the dirt with good offense. It was this good offense that helped them win 21 regular season games, just as it was good offense that helped them eliminate No. 14 Rutgers from the Big Ten tournament on Thursday. 

What really separates this offense from the others is UCLA’s ability to shoot the three point shot. In the regular season, the Bruins ranked second in the Big Ten in converting from behind the arc. When they’re on, they win games. When they’re off, they struggle mightily. 

Following MSU’s 92-71 loss to Wisconsin earlier in the year – a game where the Badgers converted 15 three pointers – Izzo made it a point of emphasis for his Spartans to defend the three with more tenacity. Despite this message, his Spartans have still struggled. Over six games, the Spartans have allowed opponents to shoot 36.7% from beyond the arc, which is the third worst in the Big Ten. 

In MSU’s inaugural matchup against UCLA, the Spartans held the Bruins to 32% from beyond the arc. Due to UCLA's reliance on the three ball, this was a win for MSU. If the Spartans want to advance to the semifinal round, it must hold UCLA to a similar statline. To do this, sophomore guard Jeremy Fears must possess the capabilities to hold Bruin guard Donovan Dent in check. 

Dent is no easy player to guard. He's quick, aggressive, a good passer and has the ability to drive to the hoop and draw fouls. He's your typical point guard – a player similar to Fears. In UCLA’s 72-59 victory over Rutgers on Thursday, Dent scored 12 points while tallying 12 assists and ten rebounds. It was the first triple-double in Big Ten tournament history. 

It’s not just Dent that poses issues, either. There’s forward Tyler Bilodeau, who averages 18.1 points per game, Skyy Clark, who shoots 44.8% from three, Trent Perry, who shoots 41.2% from three, and Eric Dailey, who averages 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. 

Offensively, the Bruins are a threat. They can shoot and score in many different ways with many different players. It won’t just be Fears that has to step up defensively, but any Spartan that touches the court. 

What UCLA lacks is physically, both in rebounding and on defense. If the Bruins want a chance at defeating the physical Spartans, they must complete the task of playing their most physical game – not just on the boards and in the back court, but in the front court, too. 

A player that could help them complete this task is Booker. The former Spartan is averaging 7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his first year with UCLA. He’s been a consistent role player with UCLA thus far, but in his matchup against MSU those few weeks ago, he lacked the physicality to compete. He was thrown around like a rag doll, struggled to obtain a rebound, was smothered offensively and had little success on the court because of it.

If UCLA wants to bring the physicality against MSU, its tallest player must be prepared to play his role. 

To limit Booker and Bilodeau and all the Bruin players that possess the ability to be physical, MSU’s post players need to command a game of aggression and action. The Spartans will rely on senior forward Jaxon Kohler, senior center Carson Cooper, junior forward Coen Carr and freshman forward Cam Ward to do this. In their first meeting, it was these four players that commanded the game. Together, they combined for 55 points, 21 rebounds and five blocks. 

If these four can play bully ball like they did on Feb. 17, and if MSU’s three point defense is improved, good things can happen for the Spartans. 

From here on out, MSU’s season is single elimination. Its new season starts on Friday at 9 p.m. in the United Center in Chicago. The game will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network.