Michigan State Spartans @ Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and Gamethread

What: Michigan State Spartans vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

When: Saturday, February 11th; 6:00 p.m.

Where: Value City Arena; Columbus, Ohio

Television: ESPN

Spartan Record: 19-5

Opposing Coverage: The Only Colors

Online Television Link: ESPN3

When Michigan State and Ohio State tip off today at 6:00 p.m. in Value City Arena, nothing less than control of the Big Ten will be at stake. Seven games remain for both squads, the two clear leaders for the regular-season conference title, two of which will take place against one another. Ohio State (9-2) holds a one-game edge over the Spartans (8-3) in conference play, presenting a wonderful opportunity for the Buckeyes to grab complete control of the conference race with a victory.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo commented on the importance of the match-up following the Spartans last game, a win over Penn State. "We've got a lot of work to do, but this is a fun time," Izzo said. "This is a big game and we've put ourselves in a position to have a big game."

If Michigan State is to have a big game, it will probably have something to do with their big man, Draymond Green. The senior forward leads Michigan State in scoring---averaging 15 points per game---and rebounds, functioning as the center of a Spartan offense that has at times been overwhelming for opposing defenses. Green's general prowess combined with guard Keith Appling's scoring ability and a devastating teamwide offensive rebounding efficiency give Michigan State one of the more subtly effective offenses in college basketball, ranking 24th nationally in points per possession.

According to effective Field Goal percentage (eFG%), Ohio State shoots a tad better than the Spartans, but the Buckeyes trail the Michigan State offensive rebounding machine by a full five percent. Four Spartans average at least one offensive rebound per game, and two others miss the mark by a tenth of a percent. Izzo's squads have always been known as strong offensive rebounders, but this year's edition has elevated their production into rarefied air, ranking 9th in the country.

Ohio native Adriean Payne has blossomed in his second season as a Buckeye State defect. Suffering from a shoulder injury much of his freshman season, Payne healed in the offseason and beat out junior Derrick Nix for a starting position. Payne buttresses Green in the paint, providing another big body that teams must contend with and a steady interior defensive presence. Former Buckeye Dallas Lauderdale is an apt comparison for Payne at this time, although Payne's career trajectory, barring injury, is much more promising.

Offensive rebounding being a steadier team attribute than, say, 3-point shooting percentage, it's hard to imagine this game not coming down to the final minutes. Michigan State's traditional tough defense and a spate of tenacious rebounders makes for a real challenge, and one that should be ably met by Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, and company, tough defenders and tenacious players in their own right.

• In Michigan State's last contest, they jumped out to a huge lead over Penn State, allowed the Nittany Lions back in the game with ten minutes remaining, and then regained their huge lead for a 77-57 victory. The vacillating between easy success and lazy struggle had Tom Izzo angry with his team following the game. "It was more discouraging than encouraging," he said during the postgame Q&A. "I haven’t felt this way in a while. I guess I’m getting ready for a big game."
• Michael Arace, writing in the Columbus Dispatch, attributes Ohio State's victory over Purdue to Thad Matta's coaching. Of particular note, Arace addresses the previously common refrain that Matta disregarded man-to-man defense for no reason, pointing out that past Ohio State squads were unequipped to handle a man-scheme in large doses.
• Ohio University has, amusingly, taken issue with the supposed insult invented by Michigan football coach Brady Hoke. Hoke has taken to calling Ohio State simply "Ohio" in public and in dealings with his team, a short-hand that has recently been taken up by Michigan basketball head coach John Beilein and athletic director Dave Brandon. Following Beilein's reference to Ohio State as "Ohio" after the Wolverine loss to the Buckeyes, Ohio University assistant basketball coach Dustin Ford tweeted this: "Was recruiting all day yesterday and just saw on Twitter we played Michigan. Good win for us -- wish I was there #bobcatnation."