2/27/07 - MSU @ Michigan Preview

After four straight home wins, the Michigan State Spartans make the short trip across state to take on rival Michigan. State has been revived thanks to an extended homestand, going 4 for 4 in their last four games at the Breslin Center. However, this is still the same Spartan team that is 1-5 on the road this year in the Big Ten with their only road victory coming at Penn State. On the other hand, the Wolverines have been very tough to beat at home in conference play. Michigan is 5-1 at home in Big Ten play with their only defeat coming at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes in a game where Michigan actually led by 11 at halftime. In Saturday's 62-51 victory over Minnesota, Tommy Amaker decided to shuffle up his starting lineup. Ekpe Udoh and Jaret Smith were added to the starting five replacing senior Courtney Sims and Ron Coleman. Udoh gives the Wolverines defense an added boost inside with his tremendous shot blocking ability, but Michigan will miss Sims' rebounding ability in tonight's matchup. This game will most likely come down to which team turns the ball over the least amount of times. MSU and Michigan are the top two teams in conference when it comes to giveaways. In the first half of Saturday night's 66-58 win over Indiana, the Spartans turned the ball over 14 times and found themselves down 10 at half. Their 2nd half comeback was made possible by limiting turnovers. MSU gave it away just 9 times in the 2nd half and ended up with an impressive victory. Michigan is a different team at home and State is a different team on the road. This game should be tight all the way through. Michigan needs this win bad, a loss and you can say good-bye to any chances at the NCAA Tournament.