Michigan basketball can't win the Big Ten championship, but there is still a lot at stake for the Wolverines on Sunday as they head to East Landsing.
The Wolverines just need a win. They have lost three of their last four games and looked ugly doing it. The Spartans won the Big Ten title with a dominant performance against Iowa earlier this week.
In the first meeting, Michigan State dominated the second half, dominated the 3-point line, and the offensive glass on its way to a double-digit win.
Even with the title wrapped up, the Spartans are trying to improve their seeding for the NCAA tournament, too. Plus, the fans would love to cap the Big Ten title celebration with a win over the Wolverines.
Michigan needs some momentum going into the postseason. The Wolverines also need a win to wrap up the No. 2 seed for the Big Ten tournament. With that in mind, here are three keys and a prediction.
Don't get destroyed with extra possessions
In the first matchup, Michigan State rebounded 47 percent of its misses. The Spartans knocked down a bunch of 3-pointers, however, even when they missed it seemed like Michigan State found a way to get the offensive rebound.
Against Maryland, the Wolverines had 16 turnovers compared to eight. The Terrapins also turned their offensive rebounds into points.
Michigan allowed 18 offensive rebounds against Illinois, so it's become a trend. Michigan State is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the Big Ten. Michigan basketball is one of the worst, but the Wolverines need to find a way to at least be better than they have been recently.
Keep dominating on 2-point attempts
Michigan actually shot 64 percent on 2-point attempts against Michigan State in the first meeting. If you told me that before the game, I would have thought the Wolverines would be in a good spot.
Yet, Michigan shot 24 percent from 3-point range. It's hard to win games that way, especially when you are turning the ball over and giving up a bunch of offensive rebounds.
Michigan State allows just 49.4 percent on 2-point attempts, which is fourth in the Big Ten this season. The Wolverines had success in the first matchup, and they need to have similar success if they are going to steal a win on the road.
The guards have to step up
Nimari Burnett and Tre Donaldson shot the ball better against Maryland. However, the Wolverines need a lot more from their guards than they have been getting.
Donaldson hasn't scored over 11 points in the last six outings. Nimari Burnett hasn't been shooting the ball as well as he was earlier in the season. Roddy Gayle and Rubin Jones are each struggling too.
That might not change, but when Jones and Gayle were playing well defensively, attacking the basket, and coming up with hustle plays, it made a big difference.
Donaldson needs to be a difference-maker, but the others have to find a way to be productive or it's hard to see the Wolverines leaving East Lansing with a win.