PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* ESPN Coach's Clinic >> 4-1 Run with NCAAB 10*s!
(NCAAB) Michigan State vs. Purdue,
Point Spread: 10.00 | -110.00 Michigan State (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 10.00 | -110.00 Michigan State (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: It's rare for a Tom Izzo team to be on the NCAA 'bubble' but that's the case here in 2017, as 16-10 Michigan State (8-5 in Big Ten play) visits West Lafayette to take on the 16th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers, who are 21-5 overall, including 10-3 in Big Ten play.
Michigan State: The Spartans enter having won four of five and could they be finding their groove? Tuesday's 74-66 win over Ohio State moved them into a tie for fourth place with Northwestern in the Big Ten. "We're a grinder team, and I'm proud of my guys for being that way," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said after the victory over the Buckeyes. "It's a blue-collar team and I don't mind people calling me a blue-collar coach." MSU is also a young team. The 6-7 Bridges (16.2 & 8.4) is a star plus is joined by fellow freshman forward Ward (13.2 & 5.9) and PG Winston (7.2 & 5.3 APG). Senior guard Harris (11.1) is the best veteran.
Purdue: The Boilermakers are now in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with Maryland and Wisconsin, which has lost back-to-back games. Meanwhile, Purdue has won four in a row and nine of its last 11. Talking about stars, 6-9 sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan (18.7 & 13.0) has recorded eight consecutive double-doubles and leads the nation with 22. The 7-2 Haas (13.2 & 5.3) doesn't start but is the team's second-leading scorer. Starting alongside Swanigan up front is the 6-8 Vince Edwards (11.7 & 5.0) with that duo joined by a three-guard lineup which includes freshman Carsen Edwards (10.9) plus juniors Mathias (9.9-3.6-3.8) and Thompson (7.3).
The pick: Purdue head coach Matt Painter, whose Boilermakers lost to Michigan State in the 2016 Big Ten tournament championship game in Indianapolis, is impressed with how the Spartans are playing in February. "They have made strides since we played them in January," Painter said. "They were coming off two road losses when we played them. When you go back and watch tape, it's always interesting to see what you did well, what you struggled at and how we could have been better." Yes, Purdue handled MSU the first time but still, has dropped eight of its past 10 against Michigan State, despite notching that victory last month. As for Painter, he's just 8-13 against Izzo and the the Spartans. Take the points and make Michigan State a 10* play.
Michigan State: The Spartans enter having won four of five and could they be finding their groove? Tuesday's 74-66 win over Ohio State moved them into a tie for fourth place with Northwestern in the Big Ten. "We're a grinder team, and I'm proud of my guys for being that way," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said after the victory over the Buckeyes. "It's a blue-collar team and I don't mind people calling me a blue-collar coach." MSU is also a young team. The 6-7 Bridges (16.2 & 8.4) is a star plus is joined by fellow freshman forward Ward (13.2 & 5.9) and PG Winston (7.2 & 5.3 APG). Senior guard Harris (11.1) is the best veteran.
Purdue: The Boilermakers are now in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with Maryland and Wisconsin, which has lost back-to-back games. Meanwhile, Purdue has won four in a row and nine of its last 11. Talking about stars, 6-9 sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan (18.7 & 13.0) has recorded eight consecutive double-doubles and leads the nation with 22. The 7-2 Haas (13.2 & 5.3) doesn't start but is the team's second-leading scorer. Starting alongside Swanigan up front is the 6-8 Vince Edwards (11.7 & 5.0) with that duo joined by a three-guard lineup which includes freshman Carsen Edwards (10.9) plus juniors Mathias (9.9-3.6-3.8) and Thompson (7.3).
The pick: Purdue head coach Matt Painter, whose Boilermakers lost to Michigan State in the 2016 Big Ten tournament championship game in Indianapolis, is impressed with how the Spartans are playing in February. "They have made strides since we played them in January," Painter said. "They were coming off two road losses when we played them. When you go back and watch tape, it's always interesting to see what you did well, what you struggled at and how we could have been better." Yes, Purdue handled MSU the first time but still, has dropped eight of its past 10 against Michigan State, despite notching that victory last month. As for Painter, he's just 8-13 against Izzo and the the Spartans. Take the points and make Michigan State a 10* play.
