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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 historical rivalries up through 2018-19

By Zac Voynow

DURHAM, NC - MARCH 03: (L-R) Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels before their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - MARCH 03: (L-R) Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels before their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts following their 75-64 win against the Michigan State Spartans during semifinals of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts following their 75-64 win against the Michigan State Spartans during semifinals of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

4. Michigan vs. Michigan State

Like Indiana-Purdue, Michigan vs. Michigan State is a storied in-state rivalry between Big Ten schools. This is one of the most equally competitive rivalry in the nation.  Michigan currently leads the series 93-81. The two teams have played 14 games when they’re both ranked, and that subtopic of the all-time series is tied 7-7. Michigan has won one national title, Michigan State has won two. Michigan has been to eight final fours, Michigan State has been to nine. The craziest statistic is each schools all-time record. Michigan has an all-time .605 winning percentage, while Michigan State’s is .610%

Usually these two are battling for the top recruits, and it’s been pretty even when it comes to who decided to go to Michigan and who decides to go to Michigan State. For example, in 2012 Gary Harris and Zak Irvin were the two top players in Indiana, and they also were high school teammates. Irvin chose Michigan, and Harris chose Michigan State. More recently than that, Jordan Poole and Jaren Jackson Jr. were in a similar situation. Poole chose Michigan and is one of the reasons why Michigan is so dominant this season, while Jaren Jackson left Michigan State after one year for the NBA, and is enjoying a nice Rookie campaign.

This rivalry goes back to decades, and it hasn’t been dominated by either side. It’s astonishing how closely the similarities between the programs are. They have been two of the best Big Ten teams for decades, and they still are to this day. The high recruits that head coaches John Beilein and Tom Izzo bring into them play for them shows that this rivalry will continue to produce great games and great teams for years to come.

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