Game Thread: Michigan State Spartans vs. Indiana Hoosiers

The Michigan State Spartans are back on the hardwood tonight. MSU travels to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. EST and can be watched on FS1.

Both teams enter the game with 14-4 overall records, but Michigan State remains in first place in the Big Ten, with a 6-1 conference record. Indiana, meanwhile, is currently in the middle of the pack with a 4-3 conference record. MSU also comes into tonight’s matchup as the No. 11 team in the country while Indiana is unranked. Indiana raced out to an impressive 11-1 start (including beginning the year 8-0), but has now lost three of its past six games.

This seems like a game Michigan State should win, but I don’t feel comfortable saying that. Despite MSU clearly being the more talented team on paper last year, the Hoosiers gave the Spartans all kinds of problems. In fact, Indiana won both meetings by a combined five points.

Then, of course, there is the fact the road teams in the Big Ten have been awful this season — we all saw what happened last time the Spartans were on the road (they got throttled by Purdue, if you don’t recall). Big Ten home teams are currently 43-10 at home this season in conference play. The Hoosiers have also won each of their last four game in Assembly Hall against ranked opponents. So I definitely am wary about this one.

Indiana is led by freshman forward (and former Michigan State target) Trayce Jackson-Davis. He is averaging about 14.2 points eight rebounds two blocks and one assist per game, while shooting 63.4 percent from the floor. The Hoosiers have three other players who average double figures with forward Justin Smith (12.2 ppg), and guards Devonte Green (11.1 ppg) and Aljami Durham (10.5 ppg).

Indiana leads the all-time series 67-54, but Michigan State has won seven of the past 10 meetings, and 13 of the past 20.

Here is your game thread. GO GREEN!