On Monday night, the Michigan State Spartans responded emphatically to their loss against Nebraska, delivering a commanding 29-point victory over the visiting USC Trojans. Looking ahead, the Spartans are poised to begin a new winning streak as they face the Northwestern Wildcats on Thursday night. With no ranked opponents on the horizon until January 30, MSU aims to collect a series of victories in the coming weeks, starting with this matchup against Northwestern.
Northwestern enters the Breslin Center with an 0-3 conference record and an overall mark of 8-6. The Wildcats’ key player is senior Nick Martinelli, who leads the Big Ten in scoring with an impressive 23.0 points per game, only slightly trailing behind the national leaders. Throughout the season, Martinelli has consistently delivered standout performances, scoring double digits in every game except one and surpassing 20 points on ten occasions. He even boasts two impressive games with 32-point outings against Ohio State and Howard. His ability to perform against major conference opponents has made him a significant threat.
Beyond Martinelli, the Wildcats feature other contributors including point guard Jayden Reid, who averages 11.6 points per game, and Arrinten Page, a 6’11” center who scores 15.0 points per game and matches Martinelli in rebounding with 6.5 boards. Northwestern also has a few other players getting ample minutes, though their statistical impact varies. Tre Singleton and Angelo Ciaravino offer support with averages of 7.5 and 6.9 points while Jordan Clayton has struggled to make a notable impact this season.
After a strong start that saw them at 5-1, with a highlight victory over South Carolina, the Wildcats have struggled recently, losing five of their last eight games. Remarkably, however, many of those losses have been close, with five occurring by six points or fewer, indicating they have the potential to be competitive despite their record. This initial part of the season has also seen the introduction of new players, such as Reid and Page, leading to the growing pains of team chemistry.
While Northwestern boasts the highest scorer in the Big Ten, they also maintain one of its lowest three-point shooting percentages at just 31.5%. The Spartans, known for their strong defense, particularly against the three-pointer, may find that Northwestern’s tendency to attack the paint could be thwarted given that none of the Wildcats’ key players, aside from Page, exceed 6’7”. With Michigan State’s frontline of Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, and others, they should be well-equipped to control the post game and secure rebounds.
Furthermore, Northwestern has shown a strong tendency to limit turnovers, averaging just 8.8 per game, which is among the best in the conference. This could result in a slower pace for the game, compelling Michigan State to execute their half-court offense efficiently while also taking advantage of any opportunities for fast breaks.
On paper, Michigan State looks to have the edge against Northwestern given their home advantage and the adrenaline from their recent success. A victory here would not only keep the Spartans within striking distance of the conference leaders but also provide valuable momentum as they continue their season. Spartans fans will be keen to see how the team performs after a strong showing against USC, while the anticipation builds for this encounter with the Wildcats.