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Your Michigan State Spartans vs. the North Florida Ospreys
Jack Breslin Student Events Center - East Lansing, Mich.
Dec. 17, 2013, 7 P.M.
Jack Breslin Student Events Center - East Lansing, Mich.
Dec. 17, 2013, 7 P.M.
TV: BTN
Online streaming: BTN2Go
Online streaming: BTN2Go
Radio: Spartan Sports Network
MSU returns home for the first time in almost two weeks when it welcomes North Florida (and their awesome nickname) to the Breslin Center.
The Ospreys are No. 252 in KenPom, sitting at 5-6 overall out of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They've have a fairly difficult schedule, with losses to Florida, Ohio State, Alabama and Indiana already in the books.
Offensively, the Ospreys are No. 189 in adjO, shooting 34.5 percent on 3s (No. 140) and 43.6 percent on 2s (No. 307). UNF hasn't been able to hold onto the ball, with a 22.4 turnover rate (No. 325), and they're not particularly good at getting to the free-throw line.
Guard Dallas Moore leads the team with 11.8 points, 2.1 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. He's 16-for-32 from behind the arc this season, and his eFG% of 57.7 is No. 241 nationally. Inside, Travis Wallace averages 11.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. He has the highest usage rate on the team. Beau Beech averages 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds
Defensively, the Ospreys are No. 296 in adjD, with opponents shooting 36.8 percent on 3s and 53.2 percent on 2s, both of which are in the bottom 100 nationally. Oppoents only turn the ball over 16.8 percent of the time.
On the glass, UNF grabs 32.3 percent of its misses, while opponents get 32.6 percent. Both numbers are in the top 200.
MSU's rebounding got back on track against a smaller Oakland team, but the offense too often looked completely lost. It will be interesting to see how often MSU plays Adreian Payne at center with Branden Dawson at power forward, as they did for long stretches against Oakland. Tom Izzo seems to be questioning Gavin Schilling at this point, and you know what you've got with Alex Gauna.
Gary Harris is practicing and expected to play. Matt Costello is not. I'd be surprised to see Kenny Kaminski back from his suspension. UNF is No. 102 in tempo, so I'd expect MSU to try to run some more.
KenPom predicts an 88-65 MSU win, giving the Spartans a 97 percent chance.
This is also the Game Thread. No links to illegal game streams, no slurs, and please don't feed the trolls.
GO GREEN, GO WHITE, BEAT NORTH FLORIDA!