#1 Indiana Hoosiers at #4 Michigan State Spartans
Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Jack Breslin Events Center – East Lansing, Michigan
Opening Line: Pick
Current Line: Michigan St -1 1/2
Opening Total: 141
Current Total: 141
Opening Money Line: Michigan St -135 / Indiana +115
Current Money Line: Michigan St -125 / Indiana +105
Indiana and Michigan St meet for the first time ever when both are ranked in the top five in the country.The #1 Indiana Hoosiers are 23-3 and 11-2 in the Big Ten. The #4 Michigan State Spartans are 22-4 this season and also 11-2 in conference. The winner of this game tonight will take over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with only 4 games left in the regular season.
Indiana leads the series against Michigan St 67-48, but the Spartans are 35-21 in East Lansing. The Hoosiers have lost 17 straight games in the Breslin Center, and haven’t won in East Lansing since 1991. Indiana has won 2 straight in the series after Michigan St had won 6 straight games in the series. The Hoosiers won January 27 in Bloomington 75-70. In that game Indiana guard Victor Oladipo had a huge game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, and 2 blocks. Indiana led 50-43 with 16:28 left in the second half. Michigan St closed the gap to 50-49 but would never tie or take the lead again. Indiana would never lead by more than 6 for the rest of the game.
Indiana is coached by Tom Crean. The only losses came to Butler by 2 points in overtime in Indianapolis and at home to Wisconsin and Illinois. The Hoosiers have won 3 straight games. Indiana has key wins over Georgia & Georgetown in a tournament in Brooklyn, Ball St, North Carolina, Minnesota, Penn St, Michigan St, Nebraska and Purdue 83-55 Saturday, along with road wins at Iowa, Penn St, Northwestern, Purdue and Ohio St. The Hoosiers are 14-10 ATS and the total is 11-10 this season.
Indiana is outscoring teams 83-61 this season. The Hoosiers are second in the nation in scoring. Indiana shoots 50.2% from the field and 42.7% from 3 point range. The Hoosiers are 4th or better in the country in both categories. Indiana makes 74.6% of their free throws and is 26th nationally in that category. The Hoosiers average 39.2 rebounds per game and give up 25.5 per game. Indiana is in the top 20 in both categories. Hoosier opponents are shooting 38.1% from the field and 30.9% from 3 point range. Indiana is #16 in opponent’s field goal percentage.The Hoosiers average 15 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 turnovers.
Forward Cody Zeller averages 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Oladipo averages 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 2.3 assists. He is probable with an ankle injury. Forward Christian Watford averages 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Guard Jordan Hulls averages 10.7 points, 3.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. Forward Will Sheehey averages 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal per game. Kevin Ferrell, Remy Abell, and Jeremy Hollowell also get significant minutes. Forward Austin Etherington (knee) is out indefinitely.
Michigan St is coached by Tom Izzo. The Spartans have losses to Connecticut in Germany, at Miami-(FL), at Minnesota, and Indiana. The Spartans have won 5 straight games. They have key wins over Kansas in Atlanta, Boise St, Oakland, at Bowling Green, Texas, Purdue twice , Nebraska twice including 73-64 in Lincoln Saturday, Ohio St, Illinois, Minnesota, and road wins in conference at Iowa, Penn St, Wisconsin and Michigan. The Spartans are 10-11-2 ATS and the total is 11-11 this season.
Michigan St is outscoring teams 70-59 this season. The Spartans are #29 in scoring nationally. Michigan St is shooting 47% from the field and 35.4% from 3 point range. The Spartans are #33 in field goal percentage. Michigan St makes 71.1% of their free throws. Michigan St averages 37.7 rebounds per game and gives up 27.7 per game. Spartan opponents are shooting 38.8% from the field and 31.4% from 3 point range. Michigan St averages 14 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 14 turnovers per game.
Guard Keith Appling averages 14.1 points, 4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Guard Gary Harris averages 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Forward Branden Dawson averages 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Forward Adreian Payne averages 9.5 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Forward Derrick Nix averages 9.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Travis Trice averages 5.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He is questionable with a concussion. Forward Kenny Kaminksi is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Indiana is 5-1 ATS overall and in Big Ten games, and 4-1 after a straight up win. The home team is 16-5 ATS in this series recently. The over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 in East Lansing in this series.
Michigan St is 5-0-2 ATS after a straight up win, 3-0-1 overall and against Big Ten teams, 5-1-1 against teams with winning record, and 10-22-2 in Tuesday games. The Spartans are 8-1 ATS in the last 9 in East Lansing against Indiana.
Indiana hasn’t won in East Lansing since January 26, 1991. To put that in perspective, America was in the first Persian Gulf War under the first President George Bush. It was the day before the New York Giants would beat the Buffalo Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV. That streak has to end sometime, and I think the Hoosiers have a good shot at pulling off the mild road upset.
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