Tonight at 7 p.m. the Michigan State Spartans take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center. The Spartans boast a 14-2 overall record and remain undefeated in the Big Ten as well. Since they lost to the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels, MSU has won 14 straight games, a streak that has not been achieved since the late 1990s.
So it’s safe to say the Spartans are coming into this game hot and ready. But what do the Hawkeyes have to offer?
Iowa sits wearily with a 10-7 overall record, but is 2-2 in the conference so far. Iowa, at this point, looks unpredictable so early in the season. Iowa is currently at 500 in the Big Ten, but let’s look at the wins and losses more closely.
Iowa lost to Purdue and Ohio State, which can mean a couple things. Both the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes are 3-1 in the Big Ten and are only apart two games in their overall record, with OSU favored. Purdue has Robbie Hummel, and Ohio State has Jared Sullinger, so overall both teams have a star, and can be considered decent teams to lose to, particularly Ohio State because of their stronger bench.
However, Iowa has some impressive wins as well. The Hawkeyes defeated Wisconsin, a force in Big Ten basketball, in their own arena. That right there speaks to the Hawkeyes’ abilities, because winning at the Kohl Center is one of the most difficult arenas to win at in college basketball. Iowa also defeated Minnesota away as well, again, speaking to their road potential. Teams that can win on the road in college basketball, simply cannot be ignored.
But here come the Spartans, yet to be defeated by a Big Ten team.
The Spartans have improved immensely defensively from last year, the way I see it. They create turn overs, snag rebounds and have become scrappier overall. If the Spartans have a cold shooting night, defense can finally be relied on this year to help win games.
With assets like the Derrick Nix, Draymond Green and Adreian Payne trio that has been affective so far this season, the Spartans have a great chance to win this one, especially playing at the Breslin.
Aaron White, the key player to Iowa’s win over Wisconsin could meet his match offensively and defensively against Nix, Green and Payne, as well.
Anyway, the game is at 7, so don’t miss it, and we’ll see how this one plays out.
~Maddie Fetchiet, The Big Green
Maddie's Sports Talk 