Maryland men’s basketball at Michigan State preview

Maryland males’s basketball finishes its two-game street journey with a sport at Michigan State Tuesday night time at 9 p.m. in East Lansing, Michigan.

Maryland is coming into Tuesday’s matchup with a ton of confidence, using a four-game win streak. Most just lately, Maryland gained its first convention street sport when it defeated Minnesota by 35 factors on Saturday night time, the Terps’ second-largest convention street win in program historical past.

Michigan State will current an entire completely different problem as one of many premier packages within the Large Ten. If the season ended at this time, Maryland (7-5 Large Ten) could be the fifth seed within the convention match, however Michigan State is lurking within the standings with a 6-6 report. This sport may have large convention match seeding implications.

Michigan State Spartans (14-9, 6-6 Large Ten)

Michigan State has been nearly as good as anyone within the Large Ten this century. The Spartans have essentially the most convention titles within the Large Ten since 2000, all of which have come below the path of legendary coach Tom Izzo. Izzo is in his twenty eighth 12 months on the helm and persistently has Michigan State competing for championships. That’s no completely different this season.

Though the Spartans have had an up-and-down season, partly as a result of accidents, Izzo’s group remains to be thought-about a possible NCAA Event workforce and a contender to win the Large Ten Event.

Gamers to know

Tyson Walker, senior guard, 6-foot-1, No. 2 — Walker is Michigan State’s engine and has been essentially the most constant participant for the Spartans this season. He averages 13.8 factors per sport, which leads the workforce. He’s additionally taking pictures a staggering 41% from three.

Joey Hauser, graduate ahead, 6-foot-9, No. 10 — Hauser is a do-it-all ahead who averages 13 factors per sport and leads the workforce in rebounds. Not solely can he rating inside, however he has been deadly from past the arc. Hauser is taking pictures 40% from three this season and has essentially the most 3-point makes an attempt on the workforce.

Malik Corridor, senior ahead, 6-foot-8, No. 25 — Corridor was speculated to be Michigan State’s greatest participant coming into the season, however accidents have hindered his play. He is performed in simply 12 of the Spartans’ 23 video games, however is averaging 9.3 factors per sport. Corridor did, nevertheless, play 26 minutes in Michigan State’s most up-to-date sport in opposition to Rutgers and is slowly getting again to full well being.

Energy

Defending the three. Michigan State’s power as a protection, and as a workforce, is much like Maryland’s. Michigan State is phenomenal at 3-point protection. The Spartans rank second within the Large Ten in opponent 3-point discipline purpose proportion — Maryland ranks third. Fortunately for Michigan State, Maryland is the second-worst 3-point taking pictures workforce within the convention.

Weak spot

Scoring. Michigan State beats groups as a result of its protection and physicality inside, often not due to its offensive manufacturing. The Spartans common 68.3 factors per sport, fourth-worst within the Large Ten. Count on Tuesday night time’s bout to be a bodily, defensive affair.

Three issues to look at

1. Julian Reese’s ascent. Julian Reese is quietly turning into probably the most efficient massive males in a convention stuffed with them. The sophomore was presumed to be a tier behind one of the best of one of the best within the Large Ten, and he possible nonetheless is, however he’s proven he can compete on each ends with anybody. Reese has reached double figures in six of his final eight video games. The Baltimore native can have one other powerful take a look at in opposition to a bodily Michigan State workforce, however there’s loads of cause to imagine Reese might be up for the problem.

2. Can Maryland maintain Michigan State off the glass? Maryland is the fourth-worst rebounding workforce within the Large Ten, and Michigan State leads the convention in defensive rebounds. Maryland’s rebounding has not harm it an excessive amount of in latest weeks, however it would require a complete workforce effort to maintain Michigan State off the glass Tuesday.

3. Can Maryland’s balanced scoring and ball motion persist? Maryland averages the fewest assists within the Large Ten with simply 11.13 per sport, however that quantity is a results of contests earlier within the season the place Maryland failed to maneuver the ball. Maryland’s help numbers have been rising throughout its win streak, together with a season-high 17 in opposition to Minnesota on Saturday. High quality ball motion has led to a balanced scoring assault from Maryland, with all 5 starters and a number of bench gamers contributing in a myriad of the way.