Tuesday, February 11
East Lansing, Mich.
9 p.m.
Indiana University
at
Michigan State
Hoosiers Face Another Top-20 Challenge at Michigan State
2/11/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Season-changing victories are within reach. Coach Mike Woodson believes that, pushes his Indiana Hoosiers to fight for that despite a recent 1-7 slide that has jeopardized postseason prospects.
The next opportunity comes Tuesday night at No. 11/11 Michigan State (19-4 overall, 10-2 in the Big Ten).
"It's my job to try to push them to realize that they can still win games," Woodson says.
The Hoosiers (14-10, 5-8) are coming off Saturday's 70-67 home loss to Michigan. They rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit to tie the score with four minutes left, and while they couldn't close out a victory, their effort, and previous ones against Purdue and Maryland, suggest to Woodson a break-through is close.
"We were competitive coming down the stretch against Michigan and getting back into the ball game," he says. "If we can bottle that up, along with how we played at Purdue and the Maryland game here at home, hopefully something will click for our team and we can get off this slide."
Tuesday night's challenge includes winning at the Breslin Center, one of the nation's most intimidating basketball arenas. IU has lost three straight there, and seven of its last eight.
It helps to have forward Malik Reneau rounding into form after missing five games with a knee injury. In his best performance since the injury, he had 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds against Michigan, and averages 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds for the season.
Swingman Mackenzie Mgbako is coming off a 15-point, 11-rebound effort against the Wolverines, and averages 13.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. Guard Anthony Leal had a tough-minded 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
"Our guys have wonderful intentions," Woodson says. "They do want to win, but it hasn't worked the last three, four weeks.
"I've got to continue to push them and keep them in a good frame of mind and hopefully something good will click. We need to a (win) so they can start feeling good about themselves."
A win at Michigan State would have record-breaking-denying consequences for Spartans head coach Tom Izzo. For more than a generation, Hall of Famer Bob Knight held the Big Ten men's basketball coaching record with 353 victories. Izzo tied him with Saturday's win over Oregon, and can take sole possession by beating the Hoosiers.
Izzo said tying Knight was an honor "because I'm proud to be talked about with a guy that I thought highly of a coach." He also noted that Knight won all those games in 29 seasons at IU. Izzo is in his 30th at Michigan State, with a Big Ten record of 353-172 compared to Knight's 353-151.
Michigan State rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Oregon at the Breslin Center. That snapped a two-game losing streak after the Spartans had opened Big Ten play 9-0.
Michigan State is 12-0 at home this season. It had won 13 in a row before losing at USC and at UCLA.
Guard Jaden Akins leads the team with a 13.4 scoring average. Guard Jase Richardson is the only other double-figure scorer at 10.2. Ten Spartans average at least 5.0 points and 15.2 minutes per game.
Michigan State averages just 29.3% from 3-point range, but out-rebounds opponents by 10.2 a game, which ranks third nationally.
Woodson says IU's second-half rally against Michigan could have a positive carry over at the Breslin Center.
"We were a lot better. We rebounded with them, and we did some things I know we've been capable of doing all year. Hopefully, that will be a good sign as we head to Michigan State."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Season-changing victories are within reach. Coach Mike Woodson believes that, pushes his Indiana Hoosiers to fight for that despite a recent 1-7 slide that has jeopardized postseason prospects.
The next opportunity comes Tuesday night at No. 11/11 Michigan State (19-4 overall, 10-2 in the Big Ten).
"It's my job to try to push them to realize that they can still win games," Woodson says.
The Hoosiers (14-10, 5-8) are coming off Saturday's 70-67 home loss to Michigan. They rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit to tie the score with four minutes left, and while they couldn't close out a victory, their effort, and previous ones against Purdue and Maryland, suggest to Woodson a break-through is close.
"We were competitive coming down the stretch against Michigan and getting back into the ball game," he says. "If we can bottle that up, along with how we played at Purdue and the Maryland game here at home, hopefully something will click for our team and we can get off this slide."
Tuesday night's challenge includes winning at the Breslin Center, one of the nation's most intimidating basketball arenas. IU has lost three straight there, and seven of its last eight.
It helps to have forward Malik Reneau rounding into form after missing five games with a knee injury. In his best performance since the injury, he had 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds against Michigan, and averages 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds for the season.
Swingman Mackenzie Mgbako is coming off a 15-point, 11-rebound effort against the Wolverines, and averages 13.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. Guard Anthony Leal had a tough-minded 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
"Our guys have wonderful intentions," Woodson says. "They do want to win, but it hasn't worked the last three, four weeks.
"I've got to continue to push them and keep them in a good frame of mind and hopefully something good will click. We need to a (win) so they can start feeling good about themselves."
A win at Michigan State would have record-breaking-denying consequences for Spartans head coach Tom Izzo. For more than a generation, Hall of Famer Bob Knight held the Big Ten men's basketball coaching record with 353 victories. Izzo tied him with Saturday's win over Oregon, and can take sole possession by beating the Hoosiers.
Izzo said tying Knight was an honor "because I'm proud to be talked about with a guy that I thought highly of a coach." He also noted that Knight won all those games in 29 seasons at IU. Izzo is in his 30th at Michigan State, with a Big Ten record of 353-172 compared to Knight's 353-151.
Michigan State rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Oregon at the Breslin Center. That snapped a two-game losing streak after the Spartans had opened Big Ten play 9-0.
Michigan State is 12-0 at home this season. It had won 13 in a row before losing at USC and at UCLA.
Guard Jaden Akins leads the team with a 13.4 scoring average. Guard Jase Richardson is the only other double-figure scorer at 10.2. Ten Spartans average at least 5.0 points and 15.2 minutes per game.
Michigan State averages just 29.3% from 3-point range, but out-rebounds opponents by 10.2 a game, which ranks third nationally.
Woodson says IU's second-half rally against Michigan could have a positive carry over at the Breslin Center.
"We were a lot better. We rebounded with them, and we did some things I know we've been capable of doing all year. Hopefully, that will be a good sign as we head to Michigan State."
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