Michigan State is off to one of their best starts in over 19 years as the Spartans have won nine-straight games and sit at 16-1 on the season being ranked No. 4 overall. However, injuries have hurt the team lately and facing an underrated Illinois on the road could pose a challenge to the Tom Izzo squad.
Michigan State is finding ways to win while their senior center Adreian Payne sits out with a foot sprain. Branden Dawson is trying to play through an illness, leaving Gary Harris to pick up the slack. Harris is averaging 17.6 points per game while Payne is out. However, he is coming off a down game where he went just 5-for-16 against Minnesota. The Spartans as a team shot just 38.5 percent from the floor, their second-worst average of the season.
Facing Illinois on the road has not gone well for Michigan State in recent years. The team is looking to break a three-game road losing streak to Illinois. The Big Ten team has lost three-games straight this season, so things could look different this year. The last time the two met in Champaign, the Spartans shot just 24.1 percent, something they must avoid this year.
The Illini's last few games have been rough. They lost at home to Purdue after shooting just 38.5 percent overall in the last four games. Head coach John Groce is stressing consistency with the team and remains hopeful they can turn things around after an ugly streak. Michigan State has the most recent win against the Illini, beating the team 80-75 in East Lansing back on Jan. 31.