OH! What could have been. At the beginning of the year, this could have had Game of the year potential but the year has not been kind to Michigan State.

Illinois comes into this Big 10 matchup having won seven games in a row and is coming off a road win against Minnesota. The Fighting Illini are 16-5 overall and have posted a 12-3 record in the Big Ten. As a team, the Fighting Illini puts up 81.8 points a game. On the defensive end, they are giving up 68.6 points a game. The offense is led by Ayo Dosunmu with 21.2 points, and he grabs 6.2 rebounds and dishes out 5.3 assists. Kofi Cockburn adds 17.6 points and he grabs 10.3 rebounds. Trent Frazier chips in 10.2 points a game.

Michigan State is coming off a much-needed win over Indiana. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and stopped a run of six losses in eight games. The Spartans are 11-9 overall and are just 5-9 conference play. As a team, the Spartans are putting up 70.8 points a game and on the defensive end, they are giving up 71.7 points a game. The offense is led by Aaron Henry with 15 points, and he grabs 5.5 rebounds and dishes out 3.5 assists. Joey Hauser adds 10.2 points and he grabs 6.4 rebounds.

The Spartans hold a slight 63-60 advantage in this series and have won six of the last eight meetings. Michigan State started out strong this season and rose to as high as #4 in the country in mid-December but things have gone downhill since that point. The Spartans getting consistent play from Henry and Hauser, but that is about it. Illinois has won seven straight and their offense has been tough to slow down this season. This is the time of season you usually fear an Izzo coached team but they just don't have the horses this season

PLAY on ILLINOIS. GAME OF THE WEEK