Game Day Essentials: Game #17 at Michigan State - 1/13/2013

Michigan State Info

Team Nick Name: Spartans

Team Mascot: Sparty

School Location: East Lansing, Michigan

Last game out: Beat Iowa

Coach: Tom Izzo

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers

3-Benny Parker - 5-9 -Fr.- G

15-Ray Gallegos - 6-2 -Jr.- G

24-Dylan Talley - 6-5 -Sr.- G

13-Brandon Ubel -6-10 -Sr.- F Andre Almeida

31-Shavon Shields - 6-6 -Fr.-G/F

Michigan St (10-4)

25 Derrick Nix C 6-9 270 SR

11 Keith Appling G 6-1 190 JR

14 Gary Harris G 6-4 205 FR

22 Branden Dawson G 6-6 230 SO

45 Denzel Valentine G 6-5 220 FR

Key Injuries

Nebraska - Brandon Ubel - Out Indefinitely (Elbow)

Nebraska - Mike Peltz - Out for Season (Knee)

Player to watch; Keith Appling

The Junior PG is more of a lite version of Michigan's Trey Burke but is the only Spartan averaging over 30 minutes per game. Appling is putting up 14.2 ppg along with 4.4 assists

Crap

A tough season just became nearly impossible with the loss of Brandon Ubel. The interior anchor led the team in rebounds and is 3rd on the team in points and minutes played. Ubel represents one of the toughest Huskers to replace. Get ready for Andre Almeida to play over 20 minutes per game or David Rivers to play 30. Get ready to start seeing Sergej Vucitec, Jordan Tyrance, and Trevor Menke having to play in the B1G. Get ready to see one of the worst teams in Div I with a 3pt% now under 30% to start taking even more 3s.

While this isn't one of the best Michigan State teams this decade, Sparty is rated and will be a complete mismatch for the Huskers. Michigan St beats you inside and removing Ubel from the equation means the Spartans are Almeida foul trouble away from dominating the paint. Michigan St hasn't allowed a team to score above 70 this year and most don't make it to 60. Expect the tour of the state of Michigan to be in like a lion out like a lamb.

Prediction: Michigan St 73 - Nebraska 49