Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: 2019-20 key storylines to Michigan vs Michigan State

By Ryan Kay

EAST LANSING, MI - MARCH 09: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 75-63 at Breslin Center on March 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - MARCH 09: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 75-63 at Breslin Center on March 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Legend vs. Raising Star

The head coaches for the Spartans and Wolverines have done well overall with their respective teams this season and have garnered early-season wins thus far this season. Michigan State and Michigan have had both successes in the regular season and postseason play under the respective leadership of their current and former coaches Tom Izzo and John Beilein. Juwan Howard has taken over the Michigan program this season and has had early success winning the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament defeating Iowa State, North Carolina, and Gonzaga to capture the tournament championship. The game on January 5th will set the tone for the rest of the games between Howard and Izzo as it will be the first head to head matchup between the two head coaches.

Howard has some huge shoes to fill as his predecessor Beilein, during his 12 seasons as the head coach of the Wolverines, had taken Michigan to the NCAA Tournament 9 times. Of those nine appearances, the Wolverines had gone to two national championship games, five Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights, and two Final Fours. Howard looks to build off of the foundation that Beilein cemented and bring his own coaching style and philosophy to Ann Arbor. He has already recruited very well as he has currently the 4th highest ranked class for 2020 according to rivals.com.

Izzo in his 24th season as head coach of Michigan State has to lead the Spartans to one national championship, two national championship appearances, eight Final Fours, ten Elite Eights, fourteen Sweet Sixteens, and 22 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He was recently ranked as the 4th highest current coach over the past 20 years.

Under Beilein, Michigan had won two regular-season conference titles and two conference tournament titles. Howard will look to have more success winning Big Ten titles over that same time span but only time will tell.  In comparison, Michigan State under Izzo has won outright or shared nine regular-season conference titles and six conference tournament titles. Both coaches will have their teams ready to play when these two rivals meet.

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