Ohio State vs Michigan State Live Radio Broadcast, Preview: Buckeyes and Spartans Rekindle Big Ten B-Ball Rivalry
ByOne of the best Big Ten basketball rivalries is being rekindled Saturday afternoon as the Ohio State Buckeyes (23) visit the Michigan State Spartans.
The Buckeyes and Spartans are among the four conference four-loss teams looking up at Wisconsin in the standings. Both teams are looking to get back on track in the final few weeks of the season.
CLICK HERE to listen to the game live via TuneIn. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET in East Lansing, Mich.
The Buckeyes have tended to rise and fall with their six-foot-five freshman guard D'Angelo Russell, who is averaging 19.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Of late, the team has looked better overall, winning five of their last six.
"It makes it easier. A lot easier," Russell said in a pregame news conference, according to ESPN. "Teams can't really key on me if the other guys are stepping up and doing what they're good at."
The Spartans have been less than consistent despite their 7-4 Big Ten record, losing three games in their last seven contests. Coach Tom Izzo had to deal with several key losses to the NBA Draft last year, but even in a lot of the team's losses, Michigan State keeps the score close.
One key for Izzo going down the stretch will be defining Travis Trice's role. The senior guard is averaging 13.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, but has struggled with inconsistency throughout the season.
"I don't know. It's not game to game," Izzo said in a pregame news conference, according to ESPN. "There's some good things about it. There's still some things that I struggle with myself about it. But it needed to be done for his sake and ours."