COLUMN: MSU and Michigan basketball win big

Michigan State goes 2-1 on the week; picking up two big upset victories 

Michigan State gets huge upset win over No. 5 Illinois to continue NCAA tournament hopes. After a quick 5-0 start for Illinois, Michigan State’s Joshua Langforg went off; he got a career-high 10 rebounds in the first half, along with eight points. That propelled a Michigan State run that gave Michigan State lead a 36-26 lead at half. Michigan State had a huge beginning to the second half where they increased their lead to 19 points. Michigan State looked like they were going to run away from Illinois but Julias Marble, and Kithier fouling out along with Maddy Sisoko being ejected meant Michigan State had no big guys left. Illinois cut the lead to nine, but a Joey Hauser three sealed the game for Michigan State. 

Michigan State wons its second top 5 game of the week beating No. 4 Ohio State. This game was wild, and for several points it appeared that both teams would win the game, but a key shot from Aaron Henry and a mid range jumper from Joshua Langford pushed the lead to three points. Then a huge defensive stop from Joshua Langford on star Ohio State Buckeye Duane Washington with seconds left secured the 71-67 victory for Michigan State. 

Maryland started the game out on a 11-0 run, and after that hot start for Maryland both teams battled back and forth. Maryland held the 11-point lead for most of the game. Michigan State would push the lead to 6 or 7 and then Maryland would go on a run and take a 12 point lead. Maryland held Michigan State to a season low 55 points. Give Maryland a lot of credit for their defense, they were physical and they did not let Michigan State set up a low post game. They forced Michigan State to shoot 33% percent, and forced Michigan State to shoot almost 30 three pointers. No excuse, but you could tell Michigan State played their fourth game in eight days. They looked tired out there and they played like it.  Michigan State will now likely have to win two of their last three games to make the tournament.

Michigan goes 2-0, on verge of Big Ten Title

Michigan destroys No. 9 ranked Iowa at home. Iowa was competitive for the first half; the game went back and forth. Michigan only led by three at the half. Iowa was even able to take the 37-36 lead early in the second half, but a 14-2 run by Michigan completely killed any Iowa momentum. Michigan dominated from that point on and beat a top ten team by 22 points. 

Michigan handled Indiana by a score of 73-57. From about the 8:23 mark in the first half, Michigan was in full control of everything. The Wolverines controlled the pace, controlled the boards, and hit their shots. Michigan’s Franz Wagner had a big game getting 21 points off 6/9 shooting. Michigan now improves to 13-1 in the Big Ten and 18-1 overall. Michigan needs one more win or an Illinois loss to capture the regular season big ten title. Michigan is one game away from winning the conference championship in the hardest conference, and they are making it look easy.