• What: Michigan State vs. Purdue
• When: 2:30 pm Monday
• Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing
• TV/Radio: FOX/Spartan Sports Network radio, together with WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; Sirius/XM Ch. 381 (MSU broadcast), 195 (Purdue broadcast)
• Records/Rankings: MSU is 12-5 general, 4-2 within the Big Ten and unranked. Purdue is 16-1 general, 5-1 within the Big Ten and ranked No. 3 in each the Associated Press ballot and Coaches ballot.
• Betting line: Purdue -4.5
• Kenpom projected rating: Purdue 68, MSU 65
• Coaches: MSU — Tom Izzo is 678-272 in his twenty eighth season as a head coach, all with the Spartans. Purdue — Matt Painter is 425-198 in his nineteenth season as a head coach, together with 400-193 in his 18th season with the Boilermakers.
Series: Purdue leads 73-56 all-time and gained two of three conferences final 12 months, in West Lafayette and on the Big Ten event. This is the primary assembly between the 2 groups this 12 months.
Lineups
MSU
C (22) Mady Sissoko (6-9) 6.2
PF (10) Joey Hauser (6-9) 13.6
G (3) Jaden Akins (6-4) 8.2
G (2) Tyson Walker (6-1) 13.9
PG (11) AJ Hoggard (6-4) 12.5
Purdue
C (15) Zach Edey (7-4) 21.3
F (1) Caleb Furst (6-10) 7.2
F (25) Ethan Morton (6-7) 4.1
G (2) Fletcher Loyer (6-4) 13.2
G (3) Braden Smith (6-0) 9.8
• MSU replace: The Spartans’ seven-game profitable streak was snapped Friday evening at Illinois, dropping them a recreation behind Purdue within the Big Ten standings. The huge query coming into this Monday vacation afternoon recreation is the well being and availability of senior ahead Malik Hall, who appeared to re-injure an ankle he rolled per week earlier in opposition to Michigan. MSU is 7-2 in video games with Hall this 12 months — 7-0 in indoor video games he is been capable of end. Hall has been coming off the bench since coming back from a stress response in that very same left foot, so this may not alter the beginning lineup both approach. But his impression is more and more clear. Against high-major opponents, MSU is a mean of seven factors higher per 40 minutes when Hall is on the court docket.
MORE: Couch: MSU misplaced its poise, grit and Malik Hall – after which misplaced the sport. It’ll want all three again for Purdue.
• Purdue replace: The Boilermakers have misplaced simply as soon as this season — on Jan. 2 at residence by a single level to Rutgers. They had some shut calls — at Nebraska and at Ohio State — however Purdue is among the finest tales and groups in school basketball, proven early by an 18-point win over Gonzaga and a 19-point win over Duke in November. The Boilermakers are led by 7-foot-4 middle Zach Edey, who very properly is likely to be the nationwide participant of the 12 months. Their freshman backcourt, which has been surprisingly stable and environment friendly, options the youthful and taller brother of Foster Loyer, 6-foot-4 Fletcher, who’s averaging 13.2 factors per recreation and hitting near 37% of his 3-point photographs. The Boilermakers are the No. 1 group within the Kenpom rankings, with the nation’s most effective offense, largely due to Edey.
• Inside the matchup: It’s MSU’s flip to determine the right way to guard Edey. The Spartans have completed it earlier than, with first rate success, together with a win final 12 months on the Breslin Center and an in depth recreation within the Big Ten event. Purdue is totally different this 12 months. They play by Edey. And they’re higher defensively than a 12 months in the past, when Edey was amongst their defensive weaknesses, in the event you might catch him in a ball display. Between Mady Sissoko, Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, the Spartans have 15 fouls to offer at middle, though you accomplish that at your individual peril. Edey is a 75% free-throw shooter. The finest strategy might be to double him or dig and double sporadically, so he does not know if it is coming (like MSU did efficiently in opposition to Hunter Dickinson), after which rely on Purdue lacking some 3s. Loyer and Braden Smith, Purdue’s different freshman guard, have been pretty constant from lengthy vary, although. But not as constant as Edey is from quick vary.
MSU ought to have the benefit within the backcourt, even in addition to Loyer and Smith have performed. And it was in opposition to Purdue final March that AJ Hoggard had a breakout recreation as an actual drive at level guard, attacking the lane downhill and making choices. I’d count on he’ll have a bounce-back recreation after a few of his errors at Illinois. If Hall cannot play for MSU, although, that is an issue, given his defensive flexibility and acumen — each wanted in a recreation like this.
• Prediction: I can image MSU beating Purdue greater than I might the Spartans profitable at Illinois. It’s nonetheless a large chore, Edey and past. If Hall had been 100%, I’d be tempted to foretell the upset. As good as Edey and this lineup is, I believe Hoggard, Tyson Walker and Co. have some benefits, too. With Hall’s availability doubtful…
• Make it: Purdue 65, MSU 63
MORE: Couch: 25 years in the past, MSU basketball gained the sport that ‘modified this system’ and set the course for all that adopted
—Graham Couch