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The Michigan State Spartans hopefully don’t hate the state of Indiana because they have two road games there this week. First up of course is game two of the season against the Purdue Boilermakers. We all are still coping with the pain of game one and you all surely remember how it went, so let’s not get into that. Purdue enters the matchup with a 13-8 overall record and an 8-6 league record, good for sixth in the standings.
When
7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 CST
Where
Breslin Center - East Lansing, Michigan
TV: ESPN
Play-by-play: Dave Flemming
Analyst: Dan Dakich
Online Broadcast: ESPN.com/WatchESPN App
Radio
TCF Bank Spartan Media Network
Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM)
Detroit: WJR (760 AM)
Affiliates: 27 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Play-by-play: Will Tieman
Analyst: Matt Steigenga
Online Radio: MSUSpartans.com, TuneIn.com and TuneIn App.
SIRIUS/XM: 383
Internet: 973
Tonight’s game marks the 127th meeting all-time between the two programs. Purdue leads the series 71-55 and hold a 44-18 advantage over the Spartans in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers are also 6-3 in the last nine games against Michigan State. The boss would probably tell me I have to finish the preview despite the fact that those sentences make me want to curl up into the fetal position, so I shall struggle on.
As evidenced by the matchup in East Lansing, Purdue struggles to score very many points. Thus far into the Big Ten season, the Boilermakers rank 12th in the conference in scoring offense with just 70.4 points per game but excel with making other teams suck even more on offense as they rank fourth in scoring defense by holding opponents to just 66.7 points per game. At least they aren’t Virginia, am I right?
The Boilermakers have lost three of their last five games, leading to them dropping out of the rankings this week prior to the rematch against the Spartans. Junior forward Trevion Williams leads the team in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounds (9.6 per game). Junior guard Sasha Stefanovic is the only other player for Purdue in double figures scoring with 10.1 points, while junior guard Eric Hunter Jr. is third in scoring with 9.7 points, but leads the team in assists (3.2 per game) and steals (1.2 per game).
There are few things in life more insufferable than a Purdue basketball fan (I said few, not any, because obviously there are Michigan fans out there, for example). Please just figure out a way to get the upset in this matchup MSU.