Michigan State vs. Binghamton: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Ryan Kay
On Sunday evening the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans host a Binghamton team hoping for an early-season upset victory. The Spartans are also looking to bounce back after a disappointing season opener loss to No. 2 Kentucky, here’s a preview of the game.
TV Schedule: Sunday, November 10th, 7:00 p.m. ET, BTN Network
Location: Breslin Center, East Lansing, Michigan
Preview
The Spartans and the Bearcats started the season 0-1 as both teams opened the season away from home and both teams left the state of New York disappointed. Michigan State had shooting struggles throughout their season opener in a seven-point loss to the Kentucky. An inexperienced and young Binghamton team fell by 20 to Cornell.
The difference is that the Spartans lost a tough hard-fought game to a blue blood who is favored to win the SEC this season by single digits.
The Bearcats, on the other hand, lost to an Ivy League school who is currently ranked No. 1 in the country in collegiate hockey but were picked to finish 6th in the Ivy League preseason poll.
For Michigan State, Tom Izzo and his team need to set the tone early by having their starters like Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman stay out of foul trouble and shot the ball better beyond the 3 point arch. For example, all five starters for Michigan State had two fouls in the first half against the Wildcats. The Spartans also were an unacceptable 5-for-26 shooting from 3-point range. Star point guard and Wooden trophy favorite Cassius Winston was an uncharacteristic 1-for-7 from beyond the three-point arch against Kentucky. Izzo in his post-game remarks vowed to prepare his team better for future games.
Binghamton, a lot of inexperienced players were able to get extended, meaningful playing time in their season opener. The Bearcats have four new starters this season who took the court against Cornell. Binghamton from the America East conference where Vermont and UMBC are members of were competitive during the first half of play before Cornell pulled away late in the 2nd half.
The Bearcats are led by senior graduate transfer Pierre Sarr who scored 16 to lead Binghamton in their season opener. Freshman George Tinsley along with Sarr anchor the Bearcats frontcourt. Senior guard Richard Caldwell Jr. who came off the bench in the season opener may be inserted into the starting lineup against the Spartans after a strong and productive game against Cornell. Binghamton last played Michigan State in 2015 were the fell to the Spartans by a score of 76-33.
Next. Top early season nonconference tournaments. dark
This is easily the easiest non-conference game on Michigan State’s November schedule and the best opportunity for Izzo to give significant playing time to players like Foster Loyer and Julius Marble. this one will be a bit closer than some This game will be a fairly easy win for the Spartans as expected, as players like Winston will not go 1-7 from three-point range as he did in the opener, but players like Tillman and Henry need to be more productive on the offensive end of the floor against Binghamton. Look for players like Gabe Brown and Rocket Watts to have big games for Michigan State today.