Dec. 13, 2025, 5:07 a.m. ET
EAST LANSING — For the primary time this season, Michigan State basketball will face two new circumstances.
Taking part in after a loss. And taking part in a real street sport.
The ninth-ranked Spartans, coming off a house loss to No. 3 Duke, resume Massive Ten play in opposition to Penn State in College Park, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Dec. 13 (midday, Massive Ten Community).
“We have now considerations like we all the time do,” MSU coach Tom Izzo stated after follow Thursday. “However they get a bit extra due to the circumstances we’re handled. … Hopefully, we’re over our little hangover of dropping that sport at residence.”
Here’s a take a look at what to anticipate from the ultimate Massive Ten sport of 2025 for MSU (8-1, 1-0) in opposition to the surging Nittany Lions (8-2, 0-1).
Fueling a hearth
MSU has been off for finals this week following Saturday’s 66-60 loss to the Blue Devils at Breslin Heart, a nationally televised alternative each Izzo and his gamers felt they let slip. It spoiled the Spartans’ season-opening eight-game win streak that included neutral-court wins over Kentucky and North Carolina and a house victory over Arkansas.
However falling at residence for the primary time since Feb. 11 to Indiana – MSU’s solely loss final season at Breslin – additionally has amplified motivation.
“You possibly can inform that everyone is happy for the subsequent sport,” senior ahead Jaxon Kohler stated after Thursday’s follow. “All people simply can’t wait to get again there on the ground in opposition to one other staff and type of proper our wrongs. That Duke loss gave us a hearth.”
Together with his staff as soon as once more an opponent throughout a T-shirt giveaway, Izzo is anticipating a raucous setting on the sometimes staid Bryce Jordan Heart. Very like how his staff bought an power enhance with the general public introduction of soccer coach Pat Fitzgerald whereas stomping Iowa within the Dec. 2 Massive Ten opener, 71-52, Izzo believes new PSU soccer coach Matt Campbell will add pleasure for a Penn State fanbase that sometimes forgets about Mike Rhoades’ basketball program.
“I’m positive it’ll be Fourth of July and Christmas. … Which shouldn’t trouble us, as a result of we’re used to taking part in in entrance of huge crowds, even on the street,” Izzo stated. “Nevertheless it may up them. And plus, Mike’s a hell of a coach.”
MSU’s solely true street check up to now this season got here throughout the exhibition season, a 76-69 defeat in opposition to No. 5 UConn in Hartford, Connecticut.
Take 2
Determining his two-guard scenario stays one in all Izzo’s greatest priorities between now and the resumption of Massive Ten play, with PSU and three extra nonconference video games – Dec. 15 at residence vs. Toledo, Dec. 20 vs. Oakland in Detroit and Dec. 29 at residence vs. Cornell – between now and the Jan. 2 journey to Nebraska.
Izzo went from beginning sophomore Kur Teng to inserting senior switch Trey Fort into the lineup earlier than going again to Teng over the previous two video games. In opposition to Duke, MSU turned to lanky freshman Jordan Scott for an extended take a look at capturing guard, and sophomore switch Divine Ugochukwu additionally has cut up his minutes between the one and the 2 when he and place to begin guard Jeremy Fears Jr. are on the court docket collectively.
“We’ve made no secrets and techniques. We’re looking for the precise factor,” Izzo stated. “We’re giving everyone a bit little bit of an opportunity.”
Amongst that quartet, Teng leads the way in which with 5.4 factors a sport in his 14.4 minutes whereas Fort averages 15.8 minutes and 5.3 factors. Mixed, the Teng-Fort-Scott-Ugochukwu group is capturing simply 28.9% from 3-point vary (28-for-97). The remainder of the Spartans are a mixed 33-for-84 from deep (39.3%).
Penn State replace
Rhodes is off to a second straight robust begin in three seasons with the Nittany Lions, who opened the 2024-25 marketing campaign 12-2 earlier than dropping 13 of their final 17. PSU completed 16-15 total and 6-14 in convention play, and it was one of many three groups to not qualify for the 2025 Massive Ten Match.
The Nittany Lions have feasted on mid-major foes up to now this season, with their lone nonconference loss a 77-65 neutral-court defeat by Windfall on Nov. 22. They opened Massive Ten play Tuesday on the street at Indiana and have been fully shellacked, 113-72.
Level guard Kayden Mingo (6-foot-3) leads PSU at 15.4 factors with 4 assists, 2.1 steals and three.8 rebounds per sport, whereas fellow freshman capturing guard Melih Tunca (6-5) is averaging 12.8 factors with 3.5 assists a sport. Heart Ivan Juric (7-0) posts 9.7 factors and 4 rebounds, whereas ahead Josh Reed (6-10) averages 10 factors and three.9 boards. Junior guard Freddie Dilione (6-5) provides 13.3 factors a sport off the bench.
MSU has gained 4 straight and 7 of its previous eight conferences in opposition to the Nittany Lions.
Chris Solari’s prediction
The power inflow is short-lived for the Nittany Lions, as Fears and the Spartans assert themselves shortly with a distancing run from the outset. The pleasant rims open for MSU’s exterior shooters from there, giving Izzo’s staff a two-game cushion to start the search to repeat as Massive Ten champs heading into 2026. The decide: MSU 82, Penn State 69.
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Comply with him @chrissolari.
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