The set-up: Tom Izzo's Michigan State team opened the season ranked 12th in the AP's preseason poll but is just 11-6 (3-1 in Big Ten play). MSU's best player, 6-7 freshman Miles Bridges, has returned after missing seven games with a foot injury but isn't yet in top form. Richard Pitino won the NIT back in 2013-14 (his first year at Minnesota) but then came an 18-15 (6-12 in the Big Ten) season and then last year's 'nightmare' of 8-23 (2-16 in the Big Ten). However, the Gophers are 15-2 (3-1 in Big Ten play) and Monday entered the AP's top-25 at No. 24, the school's first ranking since the 2012-13 season.

Minnesota: Pitino features a four-guard rotation, with Mason (14.4-3.3-5.7) as the team's leading scorer, along with Coffey (12.8), McBrayer (12.1) and Springs (9.1). The 6-6 Murphy (10.6 & 8.5) is the team's leading rebounder joined up front by 6-10 center Lynch (8.6 & 6.0) and the 6-9 Curry (5.9 & 5.8). The 34-year-old son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino says he's more concerned about getting an NCAA Tournament bid and winning championships tahn the team's AP ranking. "Rankings are for the fans," he said. "That's not our goal." Minnesota is tied atop the Big Ten standings with the Spartans and two other teams and carries a three-game winning streak into East Lansing, which includes a 78-68 home victory over Ohio State on Sunday. Minnesota lost at home to Michigan State (75-74 in overtime at Williams Arena on Dec. 27) but then won at Purdue and Northwester, to open Big Ten play.

Michigan State: 6-8 freshman center Nick Ward (13.8 & 6.6) led the Spartans in that win over the Gophers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Izzo is starting four freshmen, partly because of injuries to some veteran players prior to the season. The Spartans come into this game after suffering their first conference loss on Saturday, falling to unranked Penn State 72-63 at The Palestra in Philadelphia. Izzo is searching for some consistency and once Bridges returns to form, the Spartans should develop the consistency that Izzo is seeking. The prized freshman forward remains the team's leading scorer (14.3) and rebounder (8.2) even though that ankle injury cost him seven games. Bridges is averaging 5.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.0 minutes since returning to action two games ago.

The pick: The Golden Gophers have won two straight conference road games for the first time since 2011-12 but winning three in a row seems like a stretch. They couldn't beat MSU at home, even when the Spartans were without Bridges. Make Michigan State an 8* play.