• What: Michigan State vs. Iowa
• When: 7 p.m. Thursday
• Where from: Breslin Center, East Lansing
• TV/Radio: FS1/Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; Sirius/XM Ch. 84 (MSU broadcast), 380 (Iowa broadcast)
• Records/Rankings: MSU is 13-7 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten and unranked. Iowa is 12-7 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten and unranked.
• Betting line: MSU-3
• Estimated Kenpom Result: MSU 76, Iowa 72
• Trainer: MSU — Tom Izzo is 679-274 in his 28th season as head coach, all with the Spartans. Iowa — Fran McCaffery is 505-346 in his 27th season as a college head coach, including 254-169 in his 13th season with the Hawkeyes.
• Series: MSU leads 76-58 all-time, including 14 of their last 19 games, although the Hawkeyes have won their last three games, including their only game last year.
lineups
MSU
C (22) Mady Sissoko (6-9) 5.6
PF (10) Joey Hauser (6-9) 8/13
G (3) Jaden Akins (6-4) 8.6
G (2) Tyson Walker (6-1) 14.3
PG (11) AJ Hoggard (6-4) 12.7
Iowa
F (0) Filip Rebraça (6-9) 13.9
F (24) Kris Murray (6-8) 21.3
F (30) Connor McCaffery (6-6) 7.7
G (11) Tony Perkins (6-4) 10.8
G (1) Aaron Ulis (6-3) 5.5
• MSU update: The Spartans suffered an 82-69 loss in Indiana, their third loss in four games after a seven-game winning streak. All four of those games were against teams currently ranked in the top 26 teams on analytics site Kenpom.com. All seven of their previous wins have been against teams outside the top 40. MSU sits at No. 36. Iowa is No. 35. Malik Hall’s availability remains unclear. It’s possible he could come back from his foot injury any time now. But it might also make sense to let him last this week before bringing him back. After Sunday’s game in Purdue, the Spartans don’t play Rutgers until the following Saturday, February 4th, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
MORE: What Tom Izzo said about why he didn’t transfer, kept living room promises, Mady Sissoko, Pierre Brooks etc.
• Iowa update: The Hawkeyes had four straight wins — including victories over Indiana, Michigan and at Rutgers — before Saturday’s road loss in Ohio State. They also had a game against Northwestern last week which was rescheduled due to COVID issues in Northwestern’s schedule. Iowa is one of the best offenses in the country — No. 5 in adjusted offensive efficiency according to Kenpom — and the highest-scoring offense in the Big Ten, averaging 77.8 points per game in conference play. Even by brand, the Hawkeyes drop more points (78.1) than any other team in league games. They are 146th nationwide in Adjusted Defense Efficiency. Kris Murray, the twin brother of NBA lottery winner Keegan Murray, is the star of the Hawkeyes and leads the Big Ten with 23.4 points per game in conference play. Former starter Patrick McCaffery, who took a Jan. 1 leave of absence due to anxiety, has returned to practice and could play against MSU.
MORE: Couch: MSU needs more from Mady Sissoko. The middle position is no longer unique.
• Within the matchup: This is a game where the Spartans could really miss Malik Hall, provided he doesn’t make a surprise return. Because Hall is the obvious defensive counter to Iowa’s Kris Murray, whose offensive versatility and play are a bear. He shoots better than 37% from 3s and almost 62% from 2s. He’s the most complete offensive player the Spartans have ever faced given his height and skill and ability to score from the post, dribble and outside – like his brother, the ideal centerpiece for the Hawkeyes offense. The good news for MSU is that, for once, Mady Sissoko doesn’t have the toughest matchup in the game. That likely falls on Joey Hauser or, well undersized, Jaden Akins dealing with Murray. MSU doesn’t have a good answer for that. But MSU has the advantage in backcourt and Hauser’s offense will at least force Murray to work at both ends.
• Prediction: Iowa’s win at Rutgers showed what the Hawkeyes are capable of on the road. That was impressive. But this is also the worst defense the Spartans have faced in Big Ten play. At home, somewhere else that feels like a must given the imminent schedule, I think MSU veterans can get this done.
• Do it: MSU 77, Iowa 72
MORE: Couch: 25 years ago, MSU basketball won the game that “changed the program” and set the stage for everything that followed
Contact Graham Couch at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.
