Michigan State basketball has been the subject of conversation in the Big Ten this year. Their three losses in conference have been nothing short of a field day for teams like Purdue and Illinois, who are each one game back from the top of the conference. Although the Spartans got their first blemish on the road in Mackey Arena, their outlook for the season remains positive.
Purdue is now even with Michigan State in wins after beating Indiana, but has one more loss. Although Purdue still has opportunity to lose, Michigan State’s Big Ten title hopes lie in their own hands. The five games left are all winnable, but a couple of them will be tough.
First up is Wisconsin at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, and the Badgers will surely get the brunt of Michigan State’s frustrations coming away from the Purdue loss. After Wisconsin the Spartans host Iowa the following weekend. Although you might think this will be an easy one, the Hawkeyes will be looking for revenge since losing to Michigan State at the end of January.
Following Iowa, the Spartans head down to Champaign to play the Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall. The Illini also lost to Michigan State earlier this season, presumably encouraging another revenge game. Indiana is second to last on the schedule and the Spartans hit the road again, heading to another Assembly Hall. Senior Day at the Breslin Center will welcome in the Boilermakers for a re-match between Big Ten powerhouses.
The conference title will more than likely have heavy dependence on this game. Each team has the ability to win until this game, but there are also opportunities for upsets on both sides. Purdue must face the Wolverines in their next game, and to make matters worse they have to go north to Ann Arbor. This will be a revenge game for Michigan and one that could go either way.
But the Spartans are more concerned about their own title hopes. If they can continue to take road wins and hold down their own home floor, they are in excellent shape to win their first Big Ten Championship since 2001.
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