March 7, 2026, 4:34 p.m. ET
• What: Michigan State vs. Michigan
• When: 4:30 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor
• TV/Radio: CBS/Spartan Sports Network radio, together with WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; SiriusXM Ch. 196 (MSU broadcast), 81 (Michigan broadcast)
• Records/Rankings: MSU is 25-5 total, 15-4 within the Big Ten, and ranked No. 8 in each the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches polls. The Spartans are No. 11 within the NET rankings and No. 10 per the faculty basketball analytics web site Kenpom.com. Michigan is 28-2 total, 18-1 within the Big Ten, and ranked No. 3 in each main polls, whereas being No. 2 within the NET rankings and No. 2 by Kenpom.
• Betting line: Michigan -10.5
• Coaches: Michigan State — Tom Izzo is 762-307 in his thirty first season as a head coach, all with the Spartans. Michigan — Dusty May is 181-81 in his eighth season as a head coach, together with 55-12 in his second season with the Wolverines. He beforehand spent six seasons at Florida Atlantic.
• Series: Michigan leads 105-92 all-time. The Wolverines received the primary assembly this season, 83-71, on Jan. 30 in East Lansing.
Projected lineups
MSU
C (15) Carson Cooper (6-11) 10.4
PF (0) Jaxon Kohler (6-9) 12.5
SF (55) Coen Carr (6-5) 11.7
SG (6) Jordan Scott (6-7) 6.0
PG (1) Jeremy Fears Jr. (6-2) 15.3
Michigan
C (15) Aday Mara (7-3) 11.5
F (21) Morez Johnson (6-9) 13.5
F (23) Yaxel Lendeborg (6-9) 14.3
G (4) Nimari Burnett (6-5) 8.3
PG (3) Elliot Cadeau (6-1) 10.1
• MSU replace: The Spartans’ nervous end and slender win in opposition to Rutgers on Thursday night time saved MSU in line for a No. 2 or 3 seed within the NCAA match and a No. 2 or 3 seed within the Big Ten match. The shut margin did have an effect on their Kenpom rating (dropping from No. 8 to 10), but when Tom Izzo attempting to get his seniors within the sport with a 15-point lead within the remaining two minutes hurts the Spartans’ NCAA match seed, then the entire course of wants an overhaul. I don’t think about it’ll have any impression. More necessary to NCAA match seeding might be MSU’s efficiency in opposition to Michigan and first sport at the Big Ten match. Also of observe: If the Spartans beat the Wolverines or if Nebraska loses its finale Sunday in opposition to Iowa, MSU would be the No. 2 seed within the Big Ten tourney subsequent week in Chicago. Otherwise, the Spartans would be the 3 seed.
MSU’s offensive effectivity rating continues to climb — as much as No. 30, per Kenpom. The Spartans are nonetheless within the prime 10 defensively (No. 8). That issues in case you’re hoping the Spartans have an opportunity to do one thing particular within the NCAA match. Only one nationwide champion since 1997 has had an offensive or defensive effectivity rating outdoors of the highest 22.
MORE: Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State basketball’s 91-87 win and dicey finish against Rutgers
• Michigan replace: The Wolverines are coming off an in depth name at Iowa on Thursday night time, profitable 71-68, to turn into the primary crew in 50 years to finish the Big Ten season with an undefeated street report. Michigan had already locked up the Big Ten championship and virtually definitely a No. 1 seed within the NCAA match. The Wolverines are the No. 2 protection and No. 5 offense nationally, per Kenpom. They are, nevertheless, rather less deep than they have been final time they confronted the Spartans, having misplaced sophomore guard L.J. Cason (8.4 ppg) to a torn ACL final week. Cason was taking part in very well off the bench. That mentioned, if there’s any crew within the nation that may face up to such an harm, it’s in all probability this Michigan crew.
• Matchup evaluation: Beyond the matchup between the 2 groups, there’s a matchup inside the matchup: Jeremy Fears Jr. vs. Yaxel Lendeborg. Those are the 2 favorites for Big Ten participant of the 12 months. Sunday’s sport is yet another information level for every of them, on the identical courtroom. Both are deserving. Fears is the engine behind the 25-win, second-place Spartans. He makes all of it go. He leads the nation in assists and MSU in scoring. He’s been all the things for the Spartans. Lendeborg has been the perceived greatest participant on a historic Big Ten crew — although one may argue for Morez Johnson’s total impression. Lendeborg shouldn’t be punished for having extra expertise round him. It’s a tricky name. Maybe Sunday’s sport makes the choice.
In phrases of the particular sport, MSU will must be higher from past the arc than they have been within the first assembly, when the Spartans made simply 4 of 23 3-point tries. They additionally in all probability can’t flip the ball over 14 occasions and are available away with a street win in Ann Arbor. If they will get a giant night time from somebody outdoors of Fears — maybe Kur Teng hitting 3s, Jordan Scott breaking out of a mini-slump, Coen Carr having the impression he did Thursday, Jaxon Kohler getting scorching from deep — that will go a great distance towards giving the Spartans a shot.
• Prediction: Michigan’s greatest is best than MSU’s greatest this season. So the Spartans need to do their half to ensure Michigan doesn’t get rolling. There isn’t a ton of stress on this sport for MSU — the Wolverines have already received the Big Ten title and are rightly seen because the stronger facet, and the Spartans aren’t going to lose any floor in NCAA match seeding, so long as they hold it aggressive, which I feel they’ll. It’s arduous to think about an upset, however MSU has tamed Michigan at Crisler earlier than when it appeared unlikely. Just not fairly this Michigan crew.
• Make it: Michigan 80, MSU 73
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
