Maryland (16-7) vs. Michigan State (14-9)
When: Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 9:00 p.m. ET
Where: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
Television: ESPN2 (Streaming on WatchESPN) - Watch Live
Broadcasters: Brian Custer (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (color), Myron Medcalf (sideline)
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network | Listen Online
Line: Terps +3.5
Over/Under: 131.5
Series history: Michigan State leads the all-time series 13-8, with the Spartans winning the most recent meeting 77-67 on March 10, 2022 in East Lansing.
Projected Starting Lineups
Michigan State
AJ Hoggard (6-foot-4, Jr., G) - Averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 5.7 assists per game.
Tyson Walker (6-foot-1, Sr., G) - Averaging a team-high 13.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Jaden Akins (6-foot-4, Soph., G) - Averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Joey Hauser (6-foot-9, Sr., F) - Averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game.
Mady Sissoko (6-foot-9, Jr., C) - Averaging 5.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Maryland
Jahmir Young (6-foot-1, Senior, PG) - Averaging a team-high 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and a team-high 3.1 assists per game.
Don Carey (6-foot-5, Senior, SG) - Averaging 7.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Hakim Hart (6-foot-8, Senior, G/F) - Averaging 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Donta Scott (6-foot-8, Senior, F) - Averaging 12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Julian Reese (6-foot-9, Soph., F/C) - Averaging 10.6 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.
The red-hot Terps enter Tuesday night's game riding a four-game win streak after dismantling Minnesota by a score of 81-46 on the road, the program's largest road margin of victory since joining the Big Ten. The 46 points allowed by the Terps in their last outing was also the lowest total allowed this season in conference play.
The Terps' defense has been key over the the past six games, as they have held five of their opponents under 60 points during that stretch. The one loss came against top-ranked Purdue on the road, but the defensive effort was there in a narrow defeat.
"I thought the turning point was how much we battled at Purdue," Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said about his team's current play after their win over Minnesota. "Defensively, I thought our guys really started to figure out who we are again. We came out, we had a couple of deflections, a couple of steals and started the game with a 30-second shot clock violation, which I thought was a great possession."
Going up against a Tom Izzo led team on the road, the Terps will likely need to rely on their defense once again Tuesday night if they want to run their win streak to five games. Both teams enter the game ranked inside the top 35 in defensive efficiency, with each team excelling at defending the three, allowing opponents to shoot an identical 30.1% from beyond the arc.
"We got to watch the Michigan State-Rutgers game which was a great game, great atmosphere at Madison Square Garden," said Willard after the Minnesota game. "So obviously you have a really, really tough Michigan State team on the road. Probably One of the best atmospheres in college basketball. So we’ve got a couple days, really got to buckle down, I think we’ve got to work a little bit on a couple of defensive schemes that I think we are having breakdowns, but overall really proud of the way the guys came out, especially in that second half, they came out, didn’t let up, played team basketball and played really well."
Michigan State big man Mady Sissoko had some impressive performances to start the season versus Gonzaga and Kentucky, but has been extremely inconsistent for most of the season.
For Maryland, starting big man Julian Reese is coming off of another impressive outing in which he finished with 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He's scored in double figures in four of Maryland's last five games and his aggressive, yet also efficient play has been a big reason for the Terps' success.
"I think Julian has become a dominant inside player, he is a guy we feel very comfortable running an offense through," said Willard. "I think he is playing unselfish, physical and some really good basketball."
With the game likely to be a defensive battle, whoever wins the matchup down low could be key in determining who wins the game.
The Terps and Spartans are set to tipoff at 9:00 pm ET with the game set to be broadcast on ESPN2.
When: Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 9:00 p.m. ET
Where: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
Television: ESPN2 (Streaming on WatchESPN) - Watch Live
Broadcasters: Brian Custer (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (color), Myron Medcalf (sideline)
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network | Listen Online
Line: Terps +3.5
Over/Under: 131.5
Series history: Michigan State leads the all-time series 13-8, with the Spartans winning the most recent meeting 77-67 on March 10, 2022 in East Lansing.
Projected Starting Lineups
Michigan State
AJ Hoggard (6-foot-4, Jr., G) - Averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 5.7 assists per game.
Tyson Walker (6-foot-1, Sr., G) - Averaging a team-high 13.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Jaden Akins (6-foot-4, Soph., G) - Averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Joey Hauser (6-foot-9, Sr., F) - Averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game.
Mady Sissoko (6-foot-9, Jr., C) - Averaging 5.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Maryland
Jahmir Young (6-foot-1, Senior, PG) - Averaging a team-high 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and a team-high 3.1 assists per game.
Don Carey (6-foot-5, Senior, SG) - Averaging 7.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Hakim Hart (6-foot-8, Senior, G/F) - Averaging 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Donta Scott (6-foot-8, Senior, F) - Averaging 12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Julian Reese (6-foot-9, Soph., F/C) - Averaging 10.6 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.
The red-hot Terps enter Tuesday night's game riding a four-game win streak after dismantling Minnesota by a score of 81-46 on the road, the program's largest road margin of victory since joining the Big Ten. The 46 points allowed by the Terps in their last outing was also the lowest total allowed this season in conference play.
The Terps' defense has been key over the the past six games, as they have held five of their opponents under 60 points during that stretch. The one loss came against top-ranked Purdue on the road, but the defensive effort was there in a narrow defeat.
"I thought the turning point was how much we battled at Purdue," Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said about his team's current play after their win over Minnesota. "Defensively, I thought our guys really started to figure out who we are again. We came out, we had a couple of deflections, a couple of steals and started the game with a 30-second shot clock violation, which I thought was a great possession."
Going up against a Tom Izzo led team on the road, the Terps will likely need to rely on their defense once again Tuesday night if they want to run their win streak to five games. Both teams enter the game ranked inside the top 35 in defensive efficiency, with each team excelling at defending the three, allowing opponents to shoot an identical 30.1% from beyond the arc.
"We got to watch the Michigan State-Rutgers game which was a great game, great atmosphere at Madison Square Garden," said Willard after the Minnesota game. "So obviously you have a really, really tough Michigan State team on the road. Probably One of the best atmospheres in college basketball. So we’ve got a couple days, really got to buckle down, I think we’ve got to work a little bit on a couple of defensive schemes that I think we are having breakdowns, but overall really proud of the way the guys came out, especially in that second half, they came out, didn’t let up, played team basketball and played really well."
Michigan State big man Mady Sissoko had some impressive performances to start the season versus Gonzaga and Kentucky, but has been extremely inconsistent for most of the season.
For Maryland, starting big man Julian Reese is coming off of another impressive outing in which he finished with 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He's scored in double figures in four of Maryland's last five games and his aggressive, yet also efficient play has been a big reason for the Terps' success.
"I think Julian has become a dominant inside player, he is a guy we feel very comfortable running an offense through," said Willard. "I think he is playing unselfish, physical and some really good basketball."
With the game likely to be a defensive battle, whoever wins the matchup down low could be key in determining who wins the game.
The Terps and Spartans are set to tipoff at 9:00 pm ET with the game set to be broadcast on ESPN2.
