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Michigan Basketball: Keys for Wolverines in rematch against Michigan State

By Adam Childs

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a shot in the second half during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a shot in the second half during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – MARCH 03: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a call in the first half during a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – MARCH 03: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a call in the first half during a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

With Purdue’s loss to Minnesota, the Wolverines’ game with Michigan State now has Big Ten title implications. Can Michigan Basketball avenge their loss to the Spartans two weeks ago and claim a share of the title and the number one seed in the Big Ten Tournament?

Matchup: Michigan Wolverines (26-4, 15-4 Big Ten) at Michigan State Spartans (24-6, 15-4 Big Ten)

Date and time: Saturday, Mar. 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET

TV schedule: ESPN

Location: Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI

Michigan Basketball and Michigan State get the primetime treatment as they face off against each other at 8 pm on Saturday night. The Duke vs North Carolina game will be the appetizer for this clash between rivals as at least a share of the regular season Big Ten title is on the line. The winner of this game will get a piece of the title with Purdue (if they beat Northwestern) and will get the number one seed for the conference tournament due to tie-breakers.

Michigan has escaped their rough ending stretch of games with just one loss. Unfortunately for Michigan and their fans that one loss was to Michigan State two weeks ago at home. That loss ruined the Wolverines perfect season at home. Since that game, the Wolverines have blown out Nebraska at home and then went on the road and handed Maryland their first conference home loss. Bouncing back from those wins have kept the Wolverines alive in the Big Ten title hunt.

Michigan State will be playing in their second straight home game after beating Nebraska earlier this week. It was a bounce-back win for the Spartans after losing at Indiana last weekend. The loss to the Hoosiers was the second time they lost to them this year. Those two shocking losses have kept the Spartans from being in control of the Big Ten race.

The last time these two teams met, Michigan State used a big second-half run as the Wolverines went ice-cold shooting to pull out a big win. Cassius Winston was great in that game scoring 27 points on 7-13 shooting. He would also hit 13-14 from the foul line, most of which was in the last minute that helped put the game away. Michigan struggled to score any points for a long stretch in the second half after they went up six points and it did them in.

Michigan may still be without Charles Matthews with a sprained right ankle. He suffered that injury the last time these two teams played. His status is still up in the air. He would join Nick Ward and Joshua Langford from Michigan State as injured stars unable to play in the game if he is ruled out.

Not have Matthews would be tough for the Wolverines but they have played well in his absence. Filling his void is a big key to any game, but here are three other keys for the Wolverines to get the win and a share of the Big Ten title.

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