The Michigan–Michigan State basketball rivalry is a college basketball rivalry between Michigan Wolverines men's basketball and Michigan State Spartans men's basketball that is part of the larger intrastate rivalry between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University that exists across a broad spectrum of endeavors including their general athletic programs: Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans. On the field, the athletic rivalry includes the Paul Bunyan Trophy and the Michigan–Michigan State ice hockey rivalry, but extends to almost all sports and many other forms of achievement. Both teams are members of the Big Ten Conference.
Sport | Basketball |
---|---|
First meeting | January 9, 1909 Michigan Agricultural 24, Michigan 16 |
Latest meeting | February 17, 2024 Michigan State 73, Michigan 63 |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 193 (7 games vacated) |
All-time series | Michigan leads, 97–90* |
Largest victory | Michigan State, 114–63 (2000) |
Longest win streak | Michigan, 12 (1921–27) |
Current win streak | Michigan State, 2 (2024–present) |
The rivalry has been evidenced both on the court and off the court. Among the off the court elements of the rivalry, recruiting of basketball talent has resulted in battles, the most notable of which turned into the University of Michigan basketball scandal, the investigation of which began when both schools sought the services of Mateen Cleaves. Michigan leads the all-time series; however, Michigan State leads the series since joining the Big Ten in 1950.
Series history
edit"Do I respect John Beilein? Tremendously. Do I respect Michigan? Tremendously. Do I like them? Not one bit. I don't like anything about Michigan and they don't like anything about us, and that's the way it should be."
Michigan currently leads the series, which began on January 9, 1909. However, Michigan State currently leads the series since joining the Big Ten in 1950. As a result of the Big Ten moving to 11 teams with the addition of Penn State, teams were not guaranteed two games against each other. Accordingly, the schools chose to play one game that did not count as a conference game in 1997.[2][3] When the Big Ten went to a 20-game conference schedule in 2018–19, the conference announced that the teams would always play each other twice in each season.[4]
A 1996 rollover accident during Michigan's recruitment of Mateen Cleaves led to a long investigation surrounding the University of Michigan basketball scandal.[5][6][7] Cleaves eventually matriculated at Michigan State.
Despite the intense rivalry for basketball recruits and resources and the intensity of the rivalry in other sports, the rivalry had not been intense (as measured by rankings) on the basketball court until the 2010s when the teams met 7 times in a row as ranked opponents.
On February 12, 2013, for the first time in the series' 170-game history, dating back to 1909, the teams met while both were ranked in the Top 10.[2] The Spartans (20–4, 9–2 Big Ten) were ranked No. 8 in both the AP Top 25 Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll, while the Wolverines (21–3, 8–3 Big Ten) came in ranked No. 4 in the AP poll and No. 5 in the coaches poll.[8] Michigan State won the game at the Breslin Center, 75–52. The following month, both teams were once again ranked in the Top 10, this time Michigan was on the winning end of a game played at the Crisler Center, by a score of 58–57.[9]
Indiana Mr. Basketball for 2012, Gary Harris, and 2013 Indiana Mr. Basketball Zak Irvin were teammates at Hamilton Southeastern High School, but Irvin signed with Michigan after Harris had joined Michigan State.[10] The two were best friends from third grade through high school and even wagered on the January 17, 2012, game in high school after the two had committed to different basketball programs, with Harris having to wear Maize and Blue for a day as a result.[11]
At the time of the first 2013–14 Big Ten season matchup of the teams, Sporting News's Bill Bender felt the rivalry was the best in the Big Ten largely due to the teams' excellence in the prior three seasons.[12] With Michigan State riding an 11-game winning streak, including seven in conference, and Michigan riding an eight-game winning streak, including six in conference, the January 25 game marked the first time in Big Ten history that two teams have met when both teams were 6–0 or better in conference play.[13] (#21/#25T)[14] Michigan defeated the (#3/#3)[14] Spartans 80–75.[15] It was the first time Michigan ever defeated three consecutive AP Poll top ten opponents and marked the first time since the 1986–87 Iowa Hawkeyes that any team has won three consecutive games against top 10 opponents.[16] It also gave the team consecutive road wins against top five opponents after a 36-game losing streak against them.[15][16] Michigan's 7–0 Big Ten start was their best since the 1976–77 team won its first eight games.[16]
Both teams advanced to the championship game of the 2014 Big Ten Conference tournament, marking the first time they have faced each other in any postseason tournament,[17] and the first time they played three games against each other in one season.[18] Michigan State won by a score of 69–55 securing the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.[19][20] For the first rivalry contest of the 2014–15 Big Ten season, Michigan alum Nik Stauskas and Michigan State alum Draymond Green, the 2014 and 2012 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Players of the Year, respectively, had a highly publicized Twitter war of words and bet on the game.[21]
On February 12, 2013, freshman Mitch McGary made his first career start in an NCAA game for the Wolverines against the Spartans,[22] which featured Adreian Payne in the starting lineup.[23] After Payne (15th) and McGary (21st) were both selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft,[24] McGary made his first NBA start on March 13, 2015, for the 2014–15 Oklahoma City Thunder,[25] with Payne in the starting lineup for the 2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves as the opposing power forward.[26]
The incoming class for the 2017–18 Big Ten season included high school teammates Jordan Poole and Jaren Jackson Jr. who joined Michigan and Michigan State respectively after teaming up to win the 2017 Dicks National High School Championship.[27]
The 2018 Mr. Basketball of Michigan finalist lineup was composed entirely of Big Ten conference recruits, including two players for Michigan and two for Michigan State.[28] Michigan State's Foster Loyer (3,691 points) won, while Michigan's Brandon Johns (2,792) and David DeJulius (2,542) finished second and third, respectively.[29] Marcus Bingham, an MSU recruit, was the fourth player set to attend one of the rivals.
In 2019, MSU defeated the Wolverines three times, going a perfect 3–0. The second game between the two teams marked the final regular season game and decided who would share the conference championship with Purdue.[30] Michigan State prevailed over Michigan to sweep the regular season series.[31] In the final meeting between the team, this time in the Big Ten tournament championship, Michigan State defeated Michigan for the third time on the season.[32] In each of the schools three meetings in 2019, each school was ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll.
The February 18, 2023 meeting in Ann Arbor took place less than a week after the 2023 Michigan State University shooting, with a moment of silence and displays of unity being held. The Wolverines won, 84-72.[33]
On January 30, 2024, Michigan State defeated the Wolverines, marking coach Tom Izzo's 700th career win as head coach for the Spartans.
Another element of the rivalry is that Michigan (1964, 1992*, 1993* and 2018) and Michigan State (1999 and 2001) are the only two schools to have had both their hockey team and basketball team qualify for the final four of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship and NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in the same season.[34]
Accomplishments by the two rivals
editThe following summarizes the accomplishments of the two programs.
Team | Michigan | Michigan State |
---|---|---|
National titles[35][36] | 1 | 2 |
Final Four appearances[37][38] | 8* | 10 |
NCAA Tournament appearances[37][38] | 31* | 34 |
NCAA Tournament record[37][38] | 66–30* | 69–33 |
Big Ten tournament titles[39] | 2* | 6 |
Big Ten regular season titles[40] | 15 | 16 |
Consensus First Team All-Americans[41] | 10 | 5 |
Naismith Players of the Year[42] | 1 | 0 |
Big Ten Players of the Year[43] | 5 | 9 |
All-time program record[37][38] | 1,658–1,056* | 1,754–1,114 |
All-time winning percentage[37][38] | .611* | .612 |
- Due to violations from the University of Michigan basketball scandal, Michigan was forced to vacate 113 victories, including seven against Michigan State, as well as four NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four appearances, one NIT Championship and one Big Ten tournament title.[44] See Wikipedia:WikiProject College football/Vacated victories for further details for how vacated games are recorded.[45]
- Through July 29, 2020[46][47]
Game results
editGames with both teams ranked
edit(Rankings are from AP Poll)[2]
Date | Michigan rank | Michigan State rank |
Winner | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 20. 1986 | 7 | 19 | Michigan State | 74–59 |
March 1, 1990 | 8 | 14 | Michigan State | 78–70 |
January 29, 1992 | 15 | 19 | Michigan | 89–79 |
February 15, 1992 | 17 | 20 | Michigan State | 70–59 |
February 2, 1993 | 7 | 25 | Michigan | 73–69 |
February 17, 1998 | 22 | 14 | Michigan State | 80–75 |
January 17, 2012 | 20 | 9 | Michigan | 60–59 |
February 5, 2012 | 23 | 9 | Michigan State | 64–54 |
February 12, 2013 | 4 | 8 | Michigan State | 75–52 |
March 3, 2013 | 4 | 9 | Michigan | 58–57 |
January 25, 2014 | 21 | 3 | Michigan | 80–75 |
February 23, 2014 | 20 | 13 | Michigan | 79–70 |
March 16, 2014 | 8 | 22 | Michigan State | 69–55 |
March 3, 2018 | 15 | 2 | Michigan | 75–64 |
February 24, 2019 | 7 | 10 | Michigan State | 77–70 |
March 9, 2019 | 7 | 9 | Michigan State | 75–63 |
March 17, 2019 | 10 | 6 | Michigan State | 65–60 |
January 5, 2020 | 12 | 14 | Michigan State | 87–69 |
Game Results
editMichigan victories | Michigan State victories | Tie games | Vacated wins |
|
References
edit- ^ Brodess, Doug (February 11, 2013). "The 25 Bitterest Rivalries in College Basketball: 8. Michigan State vs. Michigan". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Michigan Men's Basketball History: History & Record Book: All-Time Series Records" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 24, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 23, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ^ "Michigan State Official Athletic Site". www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ^ "Big Ten to move to 20-game conference slate". ESPN.com. October 19, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ Cnockaert, Jim (March 22, 2002). "Accident's effects still felt six years later: Roberson: It changed the athletic department". Ann Arbor News. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on August 27, 2002. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ "Ed Martin, 69, Key Figure in Michigan Basketball Scandal". The New York Times. February 18, 2003. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Katz, Andy (August 30, 2003). "Scandal won't keep Amaker from rebuilding Michigan". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "Michigan State's rivalry basketball game with Michigan first of its kind". MLive. February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
- ^ "No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 9 Michigan State final score: Wolverines outlast Spartans, 58-57". SBNation. March 3, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ Neddenriep, Kyle (April 3, 2013). "Mr. Basketball: Hamilton Southeastern's Zak Irvin has gone from the junior varsity to No. 1". Indy Star. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ^ Quinn, Brendan F. (November 2, 2013). "Gary Harris and Zak Irvin: Another side of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry". MLive.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ Bender, Bill (January 23, 2014). "Why Michigan-Michigan State is Big Ten's best basketball rivalry". Sporting News. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "Michigan-Michigan St. Preview". ESPN. January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ a b "Saturday's Men's Basketball Results". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. January 25, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ a b "Michigan holds off short-handed Michigan St. to stay perfect in Big Ten". ESPN. January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Postgame Notes #21 Michigan 80, #3 Michigan State 75". MGoBlue. CBS Interactive. January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ "Postgame Notes: #22 Michigan State 69, #8 Michigan 55". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ "B1G Tourney final: Michigan vs. Michigan State". BTN.com. March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ "No. 22 Michigan St. stuns No. 8 Michigan to claim Big Ten". ESPN. March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ "Michigan State Wins Big Ten tournament Championship: Spartans down Michigan, 69-55, for tournament title". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. March 16, 2014. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ Jankens, Evan (February 18, 2015). "Draymond Green And Nik Stauskas Finalize Their Michigan Vs. Michigan State Bet". CBS Detroit. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- ^ "Postgame Notes: #8 Michigan State 75, #4 Michigan 52". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. February 12, 2013. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
- ^ "(4) Michigan 52 (21-4, 8-4 Big Ten); (8) Michigan St 75 (21-4, 10-2 Big Ten)". ESPN. February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
- ^ "Seven Big Ten Student-Athletes Selected in Annual NBA Draft: Five conference players chosen in first round for first time since 1990". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ^ "Russell Westbrook has 6th triple-double in 8 games; OKC wins". ESPN. Associated Press. March 13, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
- ^ "Timberwolves 99 (14-50, 5-26 away); Thunder 113 (36-29, 22-9 home)". ESPN. March 13, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
- ^ Quinn, Brendan F. (April 1, 2017). "Jordan Poole and Jaren Jackson Jr., future rivals at U-M and MSU, claim high school national title". MLive.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Purcell, Jared (March 19, 2018). "A final look at Michigan's five Mr. Basketball finalists". MLive.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Purcell, Jared (March 19, 2018). "Future Spartan Foster Loyer of Clarkston is named 2018 Mr. Basketball". MLive.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Wyrot, Tom (March 9, 2019). "Michigan Falls to Michigan State in Regular-Season Finale". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ "No. 9 Michigan State 75, No. 7 Michigan 63". ESPN. Associated Press. March 9, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ "Michigan vs. Michigan State - Game Recap - March 17, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Sabin, Rainer. "Michigan State and Michigan stand united in wake of tragedy before rivalry basketball game". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Paul, Tony (March 26, 2018). "Michigan makes it a double on final fours". Detroit News. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "ESPN Wolverine Basketball History". ESPN.go.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ "ESPN Spartan Basketball History". ESPN.go.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Michigan Wolverines Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Michigan State Spartans Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
- ^ "Big Ten tournament All-Time Results" (PDF). CSTV.com. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved November 16, 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Big Ten Conference Sports References". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ "NCAA College Basketball AP All-America Teams". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ "Naismith Award Records". NaismithAwards.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ "Big Ten Announces 2014 Men's Basketball Postseason Honors" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
- ^ "Ed Martin scandal disassociation ends for Chris Webber; a look back at the timeline". mlive.com. May 8, 2013.
- ^ "What does vacating wins really mean?". go.com.
- ^ "Michigan State Spartans Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ "Michigan Wolverines Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.