Zavier Simpson, Cassius Winston, Xavier Tillman and Jon Teske are back for another round, but the rest of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has been put through a blender over the last 10 months. The foundation of this game is the same, but the surrounding pieces couldn’t be more different.
The Spartans entered the year ranked No. 1 and promptly lost three of their first eight games. Through two months of basketball, Michigan State’s best wins are at Seton Hall and home against Rutgers and Illinois. Losses to Duke and Kentucky are nothing to scoff at but a loss to Virginia Tech in Maui takes any punch out of the MSU résumé.
More on Michigan-Michigan State:
- First Look: Setting the stage for Michigan at Michigan State
- Podcast: The Official Michigan-Michigan State Preview Edition
- In Michigan-Michigan State, it all affects Zavier Simpson
- Video: Juwan Howard previews Michigan State
On Sunday (1:30 p.m., CBS), the two programs renew their rivalry. While their last two games were for Big Ten trophies, this meeting is about setting the narrative. Both teams are trying to forge an identity and the winner will exit the Breslin Center feeling like a Big Ten favorite.
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