The Way It Should Be: Michigan State and Michigan Set To Play Each Other Twice Next Season!
When it comes to college rivalries, Michigan versus Michigan State is as big as they come. Over the years, Michigan has had more success when it comes to collegiate championships, but Michigan State has also been getting better and now challenge Michigan in sports like football, and has surpassed Michigan in college basketball. Even though Michigan State has more recent success in the rivalry, the Spartans are still considered the little brother and are desperately trying to get out of Michigan’s shadow. Fans of the rivalry have a reason to celebrate because both teams just announced that they will play each other twice during the basketball season, which should make for some interesting NCAA basketball betting lines.
When it comes to college basketball, Michigan State holds the edge because they have won a championship more recently than Michigan, which last won one in 1989, the Spartans are also almost always ranked in the top 25, and favored to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
The biggest reason for Michigan State’s success is head coach Tom Izzo, who is considered to be one of the best basketball coaches in history. Izzo, who has already been inducted in the basketball Hall of Fame, led the Spartans to an NCAA title in 2000, has led the team to seven Final Four appearances, and has won 7 Big Ten regular season championships as well as 5 Big Ten tournament championships.
Michigan head coach John Beilein has done a great job turning things around in Michigan after a few down years. Beilein, who took over as coach in 2007, has won two Big Ten championships and led the school to the Final Four in 2013.
Beilein told reporters he has never liked the idea of playing Michigan State just once a season, so he is looking forward to playing the Spartans twice a year.
Last year, the Spartans defeated the Wolverines in Ann Harbor 89-73, but the Wolverines never got a chance to avenge the loss because they only play each other once. Next season, they will get two chances to earn the bragging rights for the state of Michigan.
Due to the expansion to the Big Ten in recent years, there are no guarantees that the Spartans and Wolverines will be able to play each other twice every year, which is why both teams are excited about the opportunity to do so next season.
Both teams are also in talks with the other members of the Big Ten, to see if they can make playing each other twice something they can do every season. In addition to the meeting between Michigan and Michigan State next season, the Wolverines will also have to play a home-and-away series against the Indiana Hoosiers, however, the Big Ten hasn’t announced when that is going to happen.
The Spartans, who lost some key players from last season to the NBA Draftlast week, have a very tough out of conference schedule ahead of them next season. The Spartans will play Arizona, Kentucky, Duke, and Louisville.
Last season, Michigan State finished 29-6 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten. Michigan finished 23-13 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten.
