Prediction on Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini Game
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
One coach is basking in the praise of a lofty career achievement. The other is coming under fire for his team's recent slide. Needless to say, the locker room atmosphere is very different between Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini.
The one similar thing between the Spartans and the Illini is their recent opponent, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who fell by 16 points to Michigan State on Wednesday and handed Illinois its third straight loss Saturday.
Spartans head coach Tom Izzo collected career win No. 400 in a 68-52 win over the Gophers. Minnesota followed that loss with a 77-72 overtime win versus Illinois, adding to the buzz surrounding head coach Bruce Weber's future in Champaign.
The Spartans have won six of the last eight meetings with the Fighting Illini, with the two losses coming in Assembly Hall.
- Michigan State Spartans @ Illinois Fighting Illini
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Where: Assembly Hall, Champaign, Illinois
TV: ESPN/ESPN3, 7 p.m. ET
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Spartans listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Fighting Illini.
Michigan State Spartans (17-4): The Spartans frontcourt is rounding into form just in time to tangle with one of the most versatile big men in the country – Illinois 7-footer Meyers Leonard. Michigan State is getting improved play from centers Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix, who combined for 16 points and eight rebounds in the win over Minnesota. Payne, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, can match Leonard inside while Nix, a 6-foot-9 junior, can guard the Illini's center when he faces up outside the key.
Illinois Fighting Illini (15-6): The Fighting Illini just aren't getting enough offense outside of Leonard and star guard Brandon Paul. The two combined for 45 of Illinois total 72 points in the loss to Minnesota, with no other player scoring in double figures. Weber blames wasted possessions for the power outage. Illinois turned the ball over 16 times to the Golden Gophers and took some poor shots down the stretch and in overtime. The Illini entered the matchup with Minnesota averaging less than one point per possession in Big Ten play and are ninth in the conference in scoring at 67.9.
1. While Michigan State has dominated the recent series, the Spartans and Illini have split their 110 all-time meetings, 55-55.
2. Michigan State leads the Big Ten in assists per game with 16.8. The Spartans have recorded a helper on over 61 percent of their baskets.
3. Since exploding for 43 points against Ohio State, Paul has had the green light on offense. He’s taken more than a quarter of the Illini’s total shots during this three-game skid (45 of 166) and has hit only 17 of them (38 percent).
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Fighting Illini 65, Spartans 63.
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adreian payne - assembly hall - brandon paul - bruce weber - derrick nix - illinois fighting illini - meyers leonard - michigan state spartans - tom izzo