Meet the Opponent: Michigan State Plays at Indiana With Big Ten Tournament Implications

Coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State travel to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday for the their season's first matchup against Indiana. The Spartans are 10-9 in conference play and Indiana is 9-10, so Sunday's winner gets an advantage in Big Ten Tournament seeding.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana wraps up the regular season at home with Senior Day on Sunday against Michigan State.

Following a four-game losing streak, coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers have rattled off three wins in a row over Wisconsin, Maryland and Minnesota. Michigan State arrives at Assembly Hall after a hard-fought 53-49 home victory over Northwestern on Wednesday.  

Indiana (17-13, 9-10) and Michigan State (18-13, 10-9) have not yet matched up this season. They split both contests last season with the home team winning each time. Sunday’s game comes with major Big Ten Tournament seeding implications, with the Hoosiers and Spartans in the middle of a jumbled conference.

Here’s a full breakdown of the Spartans.

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• G Tyson Walker: 18.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 36.4 3-pt FG%
• F Malik Hall: 12.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 37.7 3-pt FG%
• G A.J. Hoggard: 10.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 31.7 3-pt FG%
• G Jaden Akins: 10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 37.3 3-pt FG%
• G Tre Holloman: 5.7 ppg, 2.5 apg, 41.1 3-pt FG%
• C Carson Cooper: 3.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 52.9 FG%
• C Mady Sissoko: 3.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 55.2 FG%

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• F Joey Hauser: 14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 46.1 3-pt FG%
• G Pierre Brooks: 3.6 ppg, 32.4 3-pt FG%

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• F Xavier Booker (No. 14 freshman): 3.8 ppg, 35.9 3-pt FG%
• F Coen Carr (No. 33 freshman): 3.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 66.1 FG%

Schedule (18-12, 10-9 in Big Ten)

• L, 79-76 (OT) vs. James Madison
• W, 75-51 vs. Southern Indiana
• L, 74-65 vs. Duke (neutral site)
• W, 75-54 vs. Butler
• W, 81-49 vs. Alcorn State
• L, 74-68 vs. Arizona (neutral site)
• W, 86-55 vs. Georgia Southern
• L, 70-57 vs. Wisconsin
• L, 77-70 at Nebraska
• W, 88-64 vs. Baylor (neutral site)
• W, 79-62 vs. Oakland
• W, 99-55 vs. Stony Brook
• W, 87-75 vs. Indiana State
• W, 92-61 vs. Penn State
• L, 88-74 at Northwestern
• L, 71-68 at Illinois
• W, 73-55 vs. Rutgers
• W, 76-66 vs. Minnesota
• W, 61-59 at Maryland
• L, 81-66 at Wisconsin
• W, 81-62 vs. Michigan
• W, 63-54 vs Maryland
• L, 59-56 at Minnesota
• W, 88-80 vs. Illinois
• W, 80-72 at Penn State
• W, 73-63 at Michigan
• L, 78-71 vs. Iowa
• L, 60-57 vs. Ohio State
• L, 80-74 at Purdue
• W, 53-49 vs. Northwestern

Mike Woodson's history against Michigan State

• L, 80-65 at Michigan State on Feb. 21, 2023
• W, 82-69 vs. Michigan State on Jan. 22, 2023
• L, 76-61 at Michigan State on Feb. 12, 2022

Michigan State's Tyson Walker, right, takes off after a steal as Indiana's Xavier Johnson defends during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing :: Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Strengths

Michigan State has one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten with seniors Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard and junior Jaden Akins. Walker ranks fifth in the Big Ten at 18.0 points per game, and his quickness and ball-handling skills allow him to get shots off against any defender. His 3-point shooting is down about 5% from last season, but Indiana can't let him get hot from distance. Hoggard excels more at getting to the basket, assisting his teammates and defending. Akins is the team's top 3-point shooter with 10th most makes in the Big Ten. Like Indiana, Michigan State doesn't shoot a ton of threes, ranking 328th nationally in attempt rate, but the Spartans are 58th in the country at 36.2%. They share the ball well, notching the 19th-best in assist rate nationally.

Michigan State's team strength is on the defensive end, where it ranks 11th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The Spartans have held their opponents to 66 or fewer points in 15 games this season, 14 of which have resulted in wins. Michigan State doesn't have a single elite shot-blocker – Carson Cooper, who plays 17.0 minutes per game off the bench, leads the team with 0.8 blocks per game – but opponents average just 15 2-pointers made per game. From a defensive standpoint, that puts Michigan State 10th in the country.

Weaknesses

Finding a reliable center has been a season-long struggle for Michigan State. Senior Mady Sissoko has started 26 games at that position, a team-high, but various numbers are down from last year, including field goal percentage, points and blocks. Sophomores Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler haven't been the solution, either, which has put the weight of Michigan State's offense on its guards. Coach Tom Izzo has given more minutes to five-star freshman Xavier Booker recently, looking for a fix. He scored 11 points at Purdue but picked up four fouls in 13 minutes. Though he's a talented offensive player, he has struggled to rebound the ball and needs to mature physically before making a major impact for the Spartans. Michigan State has a definite back court advantage against Indiana, but guarding Malik Reneau and Kel'el Ware inside will be a challenge for the Spartans.

Season outlook

Michigan State was picked second in the preseason Big Ten media poll and received four first-place votes. Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and returning most of last year's roster, the Spartans were ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP top-25 poll. But Michigan State fell out of the top-25 rankings in November and hasn't returned. And with a 10-9 conference record, they'll finish no higher than fifth in the Big Ten. It's been a disappointing season for the Spartans, relative to preseason expectations, but they'll still likely reach the NCAA Tournament, where Izzo has had success in the past with lower-seeded teams.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• MCNEELEY DECOMMITS: Liam McNeeley, Indiana's lone commitment in the class of 2024 and a five-star prospect, has reopened his recruitment, according to multiple reports. CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY: Coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers won their third straight game Wednesday night at Minnesota, 70-58. Kel'el Ware led Indiana with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three assists, while Minnesota shot 38.6% from the field and committed 18 turnovers. CLICK HERE
• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Here's the full transcript of Mike Woodson's press conference following Indiana's 70-58 win at Minnesota Wednesday night. CLICK HERE