NCAAB Game Preview - Michigan State at Northwestern
Wed Dec 18, 2019 8:00 PM EST

UNC
81
Gonz
94
F
Mia-O
46
Lou
70
F
KY
66
Utah
69
F
Mont
48
Oreg
81
F
Stony
44
UVA
56
F
Baylor
91
TN-M
63
F
MSU
77
NW
72
F
SDCh
48
SDSU
92
F
Tenn
66
Cin
78
F
CenCT
60
Dart
76
F
InWor
82
CenAR
88
F(OT)
OrSt
88
UTSA
78
F
LoyIL
78
Vand
70
F
WCU
61
Xav
74
F
(N/A)
47
How
105
F
USC-Up
73
SCSt
70
F
StPet
56
UConn
66
F
BethC
65
UCF
70
F
UNCG
54
Vermt
53
F
ETSU
74
LSU
63
F
IL-C
66
IlSt
67
F
Valpa
87
HiPt
72
F
(N/A)
61
W MI
84
F
Niag
70
StBon
87
F
JU
81
Presb
58
F
Rich
62
ODU
59
F
UNH
64
Maris
56
F
Merrim
60
LaSal
74
F
TNSt
72
IndSt
78
F
Ball
65
GaTec
47
F
DeP
73
Clev
65
F
VCU
76
Charl
71
F
Canis
73
Buff
82
F
HCU
68
SFA
96
F
Bama
105
Samf
87
F
NWSt
79
SHSU
92
F
KennSt
44
Belm
83
F
Bingha
55
YSU
73
F
UL
67
ArkSt
79
F
FlGlf
56
SDSt
75
F
(N/A)
64
WIGB
126
F
Hamp
53
SIU
75
F
TXAMC
58
Nich
64
F
AbCh
77
NOrl
71
F
Radf
68
MissSt
77
F
SeLA
73
Lamar
79
F(OT)
Oakl
62
Syr
74
F
SoFL
74
UtSt
76
F(OT)
DelSt
80
JSU
92
F
Albany
57
StJon
85
F
PaulQ
67
McNee
109
F
UtVal
69
Wyo
67
F
ArkPB
40
NMSt
65
F
StMar
96
AzSt
56
F
South
61
CBU
78
F
SJSU
84
SCla
89
F
TXSo
73
Nev
91
F
Pacif
74
UNLV
66
F
CAPoly
56
Sac
57
F
No. 15 Michigan St. tries to avoid Big Ten logjam vs. Northwestern
Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:35 AM

There's a chance there will be a 14-way tie for first place in the Big Ten by late Wednesday night.

Of course, if that were to happen that would mean No. 15 Michigan State would be the latest conference team to lose on the road as it heads to Northwestern.

As the Spartans (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten) get set to head to Evanston for an 8 p.m. tipoff, not a single team has won a conference road game. It's the second straight season the Big Ten has played a pair of conference games before the end of the year and the other 12 teams are all 1-1.

That includes a few shockers, like No. 5 Ohio State losing at Minnesota and No. 7 Maryland coming an amazing final minute from Anthony Cowan from losing twice.

So, needless to say, Michigan State is leery of its trip to Northwestern (5-4, 0-1) after it opened Big Ten play on Dec. 8 with a win at home over Rutgers.

"Just look at what's gone on in the Big Ten," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told reporters. "We always talk about hard it is to win on the road."

But it seems especially hard this season. Sure, it's only two games into a 20-game schedule, but it's still difficult to explain -- though Izzo gave it a shot.

"I think the league is really good, but I think we've added some more good coaches," Izzo said. "Take (Nebraska's) Fred Hoiberg. He did an unbelievable job at Iowa State and he's an NBA coach. ... I think that that's one thing and I think there is more parity. And I think that it's harder for players to stay focused on the task that they have, and if you don't take someone seriously, you're going to get beat."

Michigan State has already played on the road this season, beating Seton Hall in mid-November when the Pirates were healthy and ranked in the top 15 in the nation. After a handful of neutral-site games the Spartans are still trying to shoot the ball with consistency as they dive back into conference play.

"You don't get many off-days in this league right now," Izzo said. "There used to be three or four teams where you said you can't afford to play bad against this team and still win, but if you could just play good or decent (you'd win). Now it's, you better be playing your 90-percent A game or you're probably not winning because I think more people believe they can beat you."

As for the Wildcats, this will be a chance to get their first conference win after beating Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Sunday. Getting the victory over a Michigan State team it hasn't beaten since 2012 will be a challenge.

"It's daunting anytime you play those guys," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. "To me, they're the standard for showing up every night, having toughness and playing well at home and on the road. Anytime you play a program like that, you know going into that game that you're going to have to be the toughest you've been."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
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