ESPN2 Non-Conference Game of the Year

It is the sixth game in 13 days for the Spartans. This is the last game MSU could lose before Big Ten play, and it comes on the road, against a worthy foe whose only defeat came by one point to a good Providence club on a neutral court.

Generally we prefer the team that has played the tougher schedule, which would be MSU. But Michigan State has played a lot of quality foes in a short amount of time. While there is no question that will pay big dividends in March, the Irish have played a bunch of cupcakes as tune-up games. So they ramped up for this home game.

Notre Dame is led by its backcourt star, Jerian Grant, who missed the second half of last season due to academic issues. He is averaging 18.4 points and 7.1 assists through seven games this season.

Michigan State sophomore guard Alvin Ellis is expected to return but when a star player comes back it is usually a step back before taking two steps forward.