Michigan State basketball is riding high after its most dominant win of the season - and now, the Spartans are heading east with momentum on their side.
Coming off a 91-48 dismantling of Maryland, Michigan State (18-2, 8-1 Big Ten) hits the road for a Tuesday night matchup against Rutgers (9-11, 2-7) at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing on FS1 and streaming on Fubo.
Let’s start with what Michigan State just did: they didn’t just beat Maryland - they smothered them. The 48 points allowed marked the Spartans’ stingiest defensive outing of the season.
That’s not a fluke, either. Per KenPom, MSU now owns the best defensive rating in the country, and they’re sitting fourth in net rating behind only Arizona, Michigan, and Duke.
In short, this team is defending at an elite level and finding ways to turn stops into points.
That defensive identity is what Tom Izzo teams are built on, but this version of the Spartans is starting to click in all phases. The transition game is humming, the halfcourt offense is finding rhythm, and the bigs - Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper - are asserting themselves on both ends. Add in the energy and poise of freshman Jeremy Fears Jr., and this group is playing with the kind of confidence that travels.
And travel they have. This matchup against Rutgers marks the fourth game in just 11 days for Michigan State - a stretch that’s spanned three time zones and over 5,000 miles of travel.
That’s no small thing, especially in the middle of Big Ten play. But Izzo has managed minutes wisely, and the depth is showing up at just the right time.
Rutgers, meanwhile, is in a very different place. The Scarlet Knights have struggled to find their footing in conference play, with just two Big Ten wins - both coming against teams in the lower half of the standings. Their most recent outing was an 82-59 loss to Indiana, a game in which only one player, Tariq Francis (15.9 points per game), cracked double figures.
The challenge for Rutgers on Tuesday is steep. Michigan State is rolling, and they’re doing it with balance - a stifling defense, a deep rotation, and multiple scoring options.
For Rutgers to hang around, they’ll need to find ways to generate offense against the best defense in college basketball right now. That’s easier said than done.
What to Know:
- When: Tuesday, Jan. 27
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Jersey Mike’s Arena, Piscataway, NJ
- TV: FS1
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)
Looking Ahead:
This game sets the stage for one of the most anticipated matchups of the season - a rivalry showdown with Michigan on Friday night in East Lansing. But first, the Spartans need to take care of business in Piscataway. If they continue to defend at this level and stay sharp offensively, they’ll be in a strong position to do just that.
Next Five for Michigan State:
- Friday, Jan. 30: vs. Michigan, 8 p.m.
(Fox)
- Wednesday, Feb. 4: at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
(Big Ten Network)
- Saturday, Feb. 7: vs.
Illinois, 8 p.m. (Fox)
- Friday, Feb. 13: at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. (Fox)
- Tuesday, Feb. 17: vs. UCLA, 8:30 p.m.
(NBCSN)
The Spartans are starting to look like a team that could make serious noise come March. But as always under Tom Izzo, it starts with defense - and right now, no one in the country is doing it better.