Michigan State Men’s Basketball: Indiana Hoosiers Preview

The Michigan State Spartans continue the road stand in Indiana this week with the second-straight game in the Hoosier state following Tuesday’s loss in West Lafayette to the Purdue Boilermakers. Up this time will be the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington who enter the matchup 12-9 overall (7-7 in Big Ten play).

This will also kick off a rough slate of four games in an eight-day span, something I notice the Michigan Wolverines cannot be troubled to face despite the poor Nebraska Cornhuskers being sent around for seven games over 12 days. This conference is a complete and utter farce, but I digress. Back to the topic at hand, the lousy, stinking, no good Hoosiers.

When

Noon EST/11:00 a.m. CST

Where

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall - Bloomington, Indiana

TV: ESPN

Play-by-play: Jason Benetti

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: 387

Internet: 977

Today’s game marks the 127th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Indiana leading the series overall 71-55. More depressing for Spartans fans is the fact the Hoosiers have won the last three games in the series (by a combined nine points total), but perhaps some comfort is that MSU has won seven of the last 11 overall. Tom Izzo is 25-17 against Indiana, and Michigan State is 15-47 all-time at Assembly Hall.

The Hoosiers have not had much success at home this season, going just 4-4 in league play. The team has won three of its last four games, however. The Hoosiers rank seventh in scoring offense in the Big Ten with 72.6 points per game and average 23.3 free throw attempts per game, good for first in the Big Ten. On the season, Indiana’s 24.0 free throw attempts per game is good for seventh nationally. Defensively the team ranks 11th in the conference, holding opponents to 73.5 points per game.

The free throw attempts are certainly easy to understand when looking at the Hoosiers main weapon, sophomore forward Trayce Jackson-Davis. The CBS Sports Preseason All-American Second Team honoree along with last year’s Big Ten All-Freshman Team (coaches poll) and All-Big Ten Third team (coaches and media) averages 8.1 free throw attempts per game, 1.1 more attempts on average than Iowa’s Luka Garza. Jackson-Davis also ranks third in the conference in scoring (19.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (9.6 rpg).

Sophomore guard Armaan Franklin is second on the team in scoring with 12.2 ppg while senior guard Aljami Durham is third with 11.4 ppg. Junior forward Race Thompson is second in boards with 6.4 rpg and Franklin is third with 4.4 rpg. Durham leads in assists with 2.8 per game.