The “Get Sparty” Game Thread: Michigan State at Rutgers

Michigan State (8-4; 2-4) at Rutgers (8-6; 4-6)

How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes

Where: The RAC in Piscataway, New Jersey

Tip-off: Thursday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET

TV: FS1 - Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson

Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network - WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 372, Jerry Recco & Mark Peterson; WRSU 88.7 FM - Chris Tsakonas and Brant Wolff

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers is 40, which is 4 spots better since the 4 point win over Indiana on Sunday; Michigan State is 46 which is 5 spots worse since a 1 point loss to Purdue on January 8.

Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 110.1 (56th) Defense 93.3 (40th); Michigan State - Offense 110.8 (42nd) Defense 94.6 (52nd)

KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 73 Michigan State 70; Rutgers is given a 60% chance to win.

OTB Guide to KenPom

Vegas Line: Rutgers -3

Series History: Michigan State leads the all-time series 11-0. including a 68-45 victory in East Lansing on earlier this month.

Michigan State SB Nation Site: The Only Colors

OTB Podcast featuring Jerry Carino

Key Contributors

Michigan State - 6’6” junior Aaron Henry (13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.6 blocks); 6’9” redshirt junior Joey Hauser (11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 36.7% 3-pt FG); 6’2” sophomore Rocket Watts (9.7 points, 3.4 assists, 1.8 rebounds); 6’5” redshirt senior Joshua Langford (8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 36.6% 3-pt FG); 6’8” junior Gabe Brown (7.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 54.0% FG, 46.2% 3-pt FG); 6’7” sophomore Malik Hall (5.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 52.1% FG, 41.7% 3-pt FG); 6’0” junior Foster Loyer (5.2 points, 2.3 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 41.2% 3-pt FG); 6’8” sophomore Julius Marble II (4.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 73.1% FG); 6’3” freshman A.J. Hoggard (3.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists);6’8” junior Thomas Kithier (3.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 65.4% FG); 6’11” junior Marcus Bingham Jr. (2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks)

Rutgers - 6’6” junior Ron Harper Jr. (18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 40.2% 3-pt FG); 6’2” senior Jacob Young (14.6 points, 4.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 2.1 rebounds, 36.4% 3-pt FG); 6’4” junior Montez Mathis (11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 37.8 % 3-pt FG); 6’4” Geo Baker (9.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 steal); 6’10” redshirt junior Myles Johnson (8.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.4 steals, 1.0 assists, 63.3% FG); 6’6” sophomore Paul Mulcahy (6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 38.5% 3-pt FG); 6’7” junior Caleb McConnell (5.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals) 6’11” Cliff Omoruyi (5.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 64.3% FG)

Injury Updates

Michigan State will be playing its first game in 20 days against Rutgers after pausing due to COVID-19 positive results within the program. Head coach Tom Izzo spoke in detail about the current state of the team here. They resumed full practices this past Monday after conducting individual workouts for close to two weeks. As for player availability, Izzo expects 11-12 players to be active for tonight’s game. Gabe Brown will miss Thursday’s game due to a COVID-19 positive test result. Josh Langford is eligible to return to action on Thursday, although how much he actually plays remains to be seen.

Rutgers has no significant injury issues.

GAME PREVIEW

Let’s hope tonight is the night that Rutgers can finally breakthrough and beat Michigan State. RU will have the same starting lineup as Sunday. Join us during the action in the comment section.