Northwestern @ Michigan St. preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 18, 2019 ) Michigan St 77, Northwestern 72

No. 14 Michigan State tries to take over first place in the Big Ten when it hosts Northwestern for a conference contest Wednesday. The Spartans come into this one tied atop the league standings with Illinois after a win at Minnesota on Sunday, while the Wildcats are looking to break a four-game losing streak that includes a loss at home against Ohio State on Sunday.

Sophomore forward Miller Kopp has been the offensive leader for Northwestern this season, averaging a team-best 13.6 points and hitting 40 percent from 3-point range. Freshman guard Boo Buie (10.2 points) scored a season-high 26, including five 3-pointers, for the Wildcats in the first meeting this season with the Spartans - a 77-72 setback last month. Guard Cassius Winston continues to be the conductor of the Michigan State train, leading the team in scoring (18.0) and assists (6.1) as well as coming up with the timely baskets when the Spartans need them. Forward Xavier Tillman is the only other double-figure scorer for coach Tom Izzo, though he's averaging a double-double of 13.9 points and 10 rebounds.

TIME: 6:30 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (6-13, 1-8 Big Ten): If the Wildcats are going to have any shot at pulling off the upset against the Spartans, they must be better on the glass than the first meeting. Michigan State outboarded Northwestern 48-24 in their December clash, including a 14-4 edge on the offensive glass, which led to 15 second-chance points for the Spartans. Michigan State leads the Big Ten in rebounding at 41.9 per game while the Wildcats rank 13th at 34.3, and players such as Ryan Young along with Pete Nance must commit to getting to the glass.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (15-5, 7-2): After dropping two of three games, Izzo decided to shake things up a bit, switching two-fifths of his starting lineup prior to the Minnesota game. A big move was sophomore Aaron Henry going to a reserve role while freshman Rocket Watts got the start in the backcourt, and both seemed to respond well to it. Watts had 10 points in 28 minutes of action, while Henry had nine points, four rebounds, two assists and tied his career high with four steals.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Northwestern has lost nine of its last 10 games, but the nine setbacks were by an average of just 7.1 points.

2. Michigan State entered Tuesday ranked fourth in the country in 3-point field-goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 27.6 percent from beyond the arc.

3. Spartans F Gabe Brown is happy to see the Wildcats again after he recorded his first career double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and knocked in a season-high three 3-pointers in the previous meeting this season.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 78, Northwestern 62