IN- STATE SLUGFEST
Two Michigan schools in Big Ten semis MICHIGAN 77 NEBRASKA 58 MICHIGAN ST. 63 WISCONSIN 60
Jim Delany couldn’t have scripted it any better: One of his best rivalries is on the big stage.
On one side will be No. 15 Michigan, on the other will be second-ranked Michigan State — one of the best matchups the Big Ten commissioner has to offer taking the Madison Square Garden floor Saturday afternoon as the two in-state rivals duke it out for a spot in Sunday’s title game. It has been a while since the school’s football teams played each other with as much on the line.
The showdown will feature the league’s two hottest teams, which have 20 consecutive wins between them, two Final Four contenders and three projected first-round NBA draft picks — top-seeded Michigan State’s forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges, and fifth-seeded Michigan’s Moritz Wagner. Let’s just say it beats a Nebraska-Wisconsin semifinal.
“Two real prideful programs, in-state rivalry. I know we’re going to be both gunning for each other,” Michigan forward Duncan Robinson said. “We’ll be ready for the challenge.”
Michigan (26-7) prevailed in the lone regular-season meeting, winning in East Lansing on Jan. 13, behind 27 points from Wagner, the versatile 6-foot-11 German forward who made a name for himself in last year’s postseason. He was impressive Friday, notching his seventh double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a thorough 77-58 rout of No. 4 Nebraska.
“Rebounding. It’s an exceptional difference,” Michigan coach John Beilein said, when asked to compare Wagner from the end of last year to now. “He’s really shown some great growth there.”
He will obviously have a stiffer test Saturday afternoon against Bridges and Jackson, the two likely lottery picks. Michigan State hasn’t lost since falling to Michigan, reeling off 13 straight wins. The deep, ultra-talented and experienced Spartans (29-3) did have a tough time with No. 9 Wisconsin, edging the pesky Badgers, 63-60, in the opener of the quadruple-header, the kind of game Michigan State has played frequently this year en route to a program-record 28 regular-season victories.
Tom Izzo’s team has toyed with lesser opponents, winning nine times by single digits. The Michigan State coach wasn’t happy with the Spartans’ uneven performance Friday. He knows a better effort almost certainly will lead to defeat against the on-the-rise Wolverines.
“It does bother me that we’re not maybe playing at the level you need to play at to advance in that tournament,” he said.
But there shouldn’t be much of a need for any motivational talks before this game. Too much is at stake, that home loss to Michigan still in the back of the Spartans’ heads.
“That’s the type of game you live for,” Spartans point guard Cassius Winston said.
Michigan State began the season as a heavy national championship pick with the highly touted NBA prospects and remains a popular Final Four contender, while Michigan was unranked after losing three starters off last year’s Sweet 16 team, receiving just six votes in the AP poll. The Wolverines, however, have been one of the big surprises in the sport, looking like a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament capable of doing major damage. For a change, Michigan’s strength is on the defensive end, where it allows just 63.6 points per game, the sixth-lowest figure in the country. Michigan State’s star power and Big Tenleading 82.1 points per game won’t faze them.
“It’s not about what they have,” said harassing point guard Zavier Simpson, who sets the tone for the Wolverines. “It’s about what we have.”
Late in Michigan’s rout of Nebraska, a “We want Sparty” chant could be heard throughout the building, a tease of what is in store for the Garden on Saturday. The arena will be flooded with Maize and Blue and Green and White, the two rivals meeting with a spot in the Big Ten championship game at stake. The Garden will be getting the very best of the powerhouse conference.
“Saturday in March in New York City [against Michigan State],” Beilein said, “it should be exciting.”