NCAA Basketball: 25 best team rivalries heading into 2019-20 season

6. Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans

It’s a pretty big deal across the state of Michigan when the Wolverines and Spartans play and these matchups will continue to have great intrigue going forward.

Not only did the Spartans knock off Michigan three times last year, but they return most of their productivity from a Final Four team. Across the state, the Wolverines rebuild, bidding goodbye to coach John Beilein, though that certainly won’t temper this rivalry’s excitement.

Michigan State leads the all-time series 92-85, with last year’s three wins helping build that lead. These are certainly two programs with an impressive history, but it’s been rare for them to both be national title threats at the same time.

The Wolverines’ three losses to the Spartans last year all came as a top-10 team. The Spartans were returning the favor, however, as Michigan knocked them off twice in 2018, both times a top-five team.

Certainly, this past decade has ramped up the intensity in this rivalry. The Spartans beat the Wolverines 69-55 in the 2014 Big Ten title game, the first time these rivals played three times in a season.

In 2013, Trey Burke helped lead Michigan to a tough 58-57 win in a game where both teams were top 10 in the nation. There have been major comebacks, recruiting rivalries (Mateen Cleaves for starters) and a lot of other stuff building between these two programs, especially in these last few years.

Does the departure of Beilein ruin the momentum of this rivalry? The quick answer is no, and Wolverines fans will be quick to let you know. The Spartans will have the upper hand in the immediate future, but new coach Juwan Howard is going to build some great teams in Ann Arbor.

These games will continue to be intense and you can bet the Spartans are going to get the Wolverines’ best shot twice a year.