Game Day Essentials: Game #10 vs Michigan State

Michigan St Spartans

Head Coach: Tom Izzo (28th season)

Location: East Lansing, MI
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Spartans

Mascot: Sparty

Line: Michigan St. by 3.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 9+

KenPom rank: 30

Nota bene:  

• Nebraska hasn't beaten Michigan St since 2016, losing 11 straight to the Spartans. Their last home win vs Michigan St was in 2015. 
• Michigan St has used 5 different starting lineups in their first 8 games.
• Everyone who has started for Michigan St this season was on the team last year. They rank 33rd in KenPom's minute continuity stat.

KenPom most used lineups

Player to watch: Tyson Walker

The 5th year senior shooting guard is in his 3rd season at Michigan St and leads the Spartans in scoring at 20.7 per game.

Player to watch: AJ Hoggard

The senior PG has struggled with his shot overall but averages 10.1 points and 4.5 assists. The Spartans tend to play as well as Hoggard does. 

Others to watch

Jaden Akins is  probably the best 3pt shooter for the Spartans but has struggled mightily on the season, shooting 27.3% on the year. Forward Malik Hall is active on the offensive boards but is yet another Spartan struggling from 3. Carson Cooper and Mady Sissoko split time at center where they bring rebounding and rim protection

UNL Game Notes

Roster/infirmary report

Out indefinitely 

5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Likely out for the season
15  Blaise Keita     6-11    257 lbs    Junior - Ongoing ankle injury recovery

Possible starters for Nebraska

10    Jamarques Lawrence  6-3    183 lbs    Sophomore

30   Keisei Tominaga           6-2    179 lbs    Senior
3     Brice Williams               6-7    213 lbs    Junior
53   Josiah Allick                 6-8    231 lbs    Senior
51    Rienk Mast                 6-10    248 lbs    Junior

Bench

4   Juwan Gary                   6-6    221 lbs    Junior

0    C.J. Wilcher                  6-5    214 lbs    Junior

9    Jarron Coleman            6-5    213 lbs    Senior
1    Sam Hoiberg                 6-0    183 lbs    Sophomore

2    Ramel Lloyd Jr.             6-6    210 lbs    RS Freshman
11    Eli Rice                         6-8    213 lbs    Freshman
21    Matar Diop                 6-10    213 lbs    Freshman
31    Cale Jacobsen            6-4    200 lbs    RS Freshman
35    Henry Burt                  6-7    216 lbs    RS Freshman
24    Jeffrey Grace III         6-3    197 lbs    Sophomore 

The Skinny: 

It was a tail of two halves for Nebraska in Minnesota as the Huskers collapsed after taking a commanding lead into the half.  Nebraska looks to regroup against another struggling team in Michigan St. Ranked #4 in the preseason, the Spartans have struggled to a 4-4 season including home losses to James Madison and Wisconsin. Whoever loses this one will have already dug themselves into a 0-2 hole in the conference standings.

Nebraska's defense will put Michigan State's long range shooting troubles to the test as they'll continue to double the post. This year's Nebraska squad hasn't been able to keep up the defensive intensity for 40 minutes so don't be surprised if the Spartans become comfortable enough to start knocking down jumpers. On offense, look for Keisei to get going again. There are a few teams in the conference that will game plan to shutdown Tominaga; this likely isn't one of them. 

Toughness and grit are going to come into play if Nebraska wants to win as they'll need to scrap for rebounds and lose balls if they expect to beat Michigan State. For this Husker team, no lead seems big enough.  Until you see them finish off a formidable program, it's hard to believe they will.

Prediction: Michigan St 65 - Nebraska 59