1/29/07 - Tuesday's Prediction

Michigan State (4-3) at Illinois (3-5) The Spartans travel to Champaign after posting possibly the best half of Big Ten basketball this season in the 2nd half of their loss at Ohio State. Drew Neitzel, in perhaps the most dominating performance of his career, almost single handedly brought MSU all the way back from a 20-point half time deficit falling just one more 3-pointer short from victory. The Illini are coming home off a 27-point drubbing at the hands of Purdue, in a game where Illinois shot less than 30% from the field! However, Illinois has looked tough as of late at home holding Indiana to just 43 points and 38.6% shooting. Can the Orange Crush continue to carry this apathetic offense to victories? Prediction: Conventional wisdom would look for a Spartan letdown after a very close and tough road loss this weekend at Value City Arena. The Illini cannot possibly shoot that terrible for a 2nd game in a row, and the rims at Assembly Hall must be kinder, right? WRONG! Illinois is beginning to be making a pattern of successive poor shooting nights and Tuesday should be no different. However, this time around the Illini will not be able to rely on the defense to pull out another win. Neitzel proves to be too much in the end, and the Spartans get a much coveted Big Ten road win a tight one... Michigan State 57 Illinois 54