Madison, WI – One of the premier games of the week takes ranked Wisconsin ranked Michigan State Spartans in Big Ten Conference action.
The Spartans, a perfect 10-0 at home so far this season, have actually won all three of their true road games to this point, the only setbacks for the program coming against national powers North Carolina and Duke in the first two games of the 2011-12 campaign as part of the Carrier Classic and Champions Classic, respectively.
On New Year's Eve Michigan State took down the newest addition to the conference, Nebraska, in a 68-55 final in Lincoln, The victory was the 13th straight for the program.
As for the Badgers, they've been one of the top defensive teams in the nation to this point in the season, but after allowing a total of just 85 points to Nebraska and Mississippi Valley State in consecutive games the team was exploited by Iowa in a 72-65 setback at home on Saturday. The loss snapped a six-game win streak by Wisconsin and was the team's second home defeat of the campaign following a 61-54 setback versus Marquette early last month.
With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Spartans hold a 69-60 advantage. However, Wisconsin has won two of the last three encounters, including an 82-56 romp in February of last season.
Michigan State appeared to be exposed in the first half against the Cornhuskers the last time out, shooting just 39.3 percent from the floor and missing all six chances behind the three-point line. But making the necessary adjustments at the half, the Spartans stormed back to take the win thanks to 54.5 percent from the floor and a perfect 12-of-12 at the free-throw line. Draymond Green was responsible for 19 points and eight rebounds, while Keith Appling dropped in another 14 points and handed out four assists for the visitors. Green accounts for a team-best 15.4 ppg and is also first on the unit with not only 9.5 rpg, but also blocked shots (19) and steals (22), while placing a close second in assists (50). Appling (12.3 ppg) is the only one with more dishes (55) than Green. Defensively, the Spartans are limiting opponents to just 37.6 percent accuracy from the floor and a mere 29.9 percent behind the three-point line, which leaves those teams generating only 59.5 ppg.
The Badgers felt what it was like to struggle on offense over the weekend, just as so many of their opponents have this season, as they shot just 34.8 percent from the floor and a woeful 3-of-28 behind the three-point line in the home loss to Iowa. Jordan Taylor managed to lead the team in scoring with 17 points, but his 7-of-19 shooting from the field was less than impressive, just as the 6-of-17 effort by Jared Berggren who accounted for 12 points was. Josh Gasser and Ben Brust supplied 11 points apiece, the former clearing eight rebounds in order to counter his four turnovers. Despite giving up significant points to Iowa, the Badgers still lead the nation in scoring defense, the only team allowing less than 50 ppg with an average of 46.2 ppg permitted. From an offensive standpoint, Taylor leads four players in double figures with his 12.7 ppg, followed by Berggren (12.1 ppg), Brust (10.7 ppg) and Ryan Evans (10.4 ppg), the latter also accounting for 6.7 rpg to lead the way in that category.
