Michigan–Michigan State men's basketball rivalry

Michigan–Michigan State men's basketball rivalry

Michigan Wolverines Michigan State Spartans
Sport	Basketball
First meeting	January 9, 1909 Michigan Agricultural 24, Michigan 16
Latest meeting	February 6, 2016 Michigan State 89, Michigan 73
Next meeting	TBD
Trophy	None
Statistics
Meetings total	177
All-time series	Michigan leads, 90–80
Largest victory	Michigan State 114, Michigan 63
Longest win streak	Michigan 12, 1921–1927
Current win streak	Michigan State, 4

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. 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 when both schools sought the services of Mateen Cleaves.

Series history

"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."

—Tom Izzo^[1]

Michigan currently leads the series, which began on January 9, 1909. 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]

A 1996 rollover accident during Michigan's recruitment of Mateen Cleaves led to a long investigation surrounding the University of Michigan basketball scandal.^[4][5][6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.^[10]

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.^[11] 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.^[12] (#21/#25T)^[13] Michigan defeated the (#3/#3)^[13] Spartans 80–75.^[14] 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.^[15] It also gave the team consecutive road wins against top five opponents after a 36-game losing streak against them.^[14][15] Michigan's 7–0 Big Ten start was their best since the 1976–77 team won its first eight games.^[15]

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,^[16] and the first time they played three games against each other in one season.^[17] Michigan State won by a score of 69–55 securing the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.^[18][19] 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.^[20]

On February 12, 2013, freshman Mitch McGary made his first career start in an NCAA game for the Wolverines against the Spartans,^[21] which featured Adreian Payne in the starting lineup.^[22] After Payne (15th) and McGary (21st) were both selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft,^[23] McGary made his first NBA start on March 13, 2015 for the 2014–15 Oklahoma City Thunder,^[24] with Payne in the starting lineup for the 2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves as the opposing power forward.^[25]

Accomplishments by the two rivals

The following summarizes the accomplishments of the two programs.

Team	Michigan	Michigan State
National titles[26][27]	1	2
Final Four appearances	5	9
NCAA Tournament appearances	22	30
NCAA Tournament record	45–21	63–29
Big Ten Tournament titles[28]	0	5
Big Ten Regular Season titles[29]	14	13
Consensus First Team All-Americans[30]	10	5
Naismith Players of the Year[31]	1	0
Big Ten Players of the Year[32]	5	8
All-time program record	1,415–1,014	1,635–1,065
All-time winning percentage	.583	.606

• Due to violations from the University of Michigan basketball scandal, Michigan was forced to vacate 113 victories, including 7 against Michigan State, as well as 4 NCAA Tournament appearances, 2 Final Four appearances, 1 NIT Championship and 1 Big Ten tournament title.^[33] See Wikipedia:WikiProject College football/Vacated victories for further details for how vacated games are recorded.^[34]
• Through April 27, 2016

Game results

Games with both teams ranked

(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	13	Michigan	89–79 OT
February 15, 1992	17	12	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

All-time meetings

Michigan victories

Michigan State victories

# Date Location Winner Score 1 January 9, 1909 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 24–16 2 February 20, 1909 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 45–23 3 January 11, 1918 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 17–13 4 March 2, 1918 East Lansing, MI Michigan 33–25 5 February 15, 1919 East Lansing, MI Michigan 19–17 6 February 28, 1919 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 33–24 7 January 30, 1920 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 23–13 8 February 28, 1920 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 34–27 9 February 5, 1921 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 37–24 10 February 22, 1921 East Lansing, MI Michigan 17–10 11 January 6, 1922 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 27–26 12 February 22, 1922 East Lansing, MI Michigan 19–17 13 January 3, 1923 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 33–11 14 January 20, 1923 East Lansing, MI Michigan 29–13 15 January 11, 1924 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 23–19 16 February 6, 1924 East Lansing, MI Michigan 31–20 17 December 13, 1924 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 26–10 18 January 16, 1926 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 38–15 19 December 11, 1926 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 34–13 20 December 10, 1927 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 43–23 21 December 7, 1928 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 31–24 22 February 15, 1930 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 27–26 23 December 13, 1930 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 32–22 24 December 21, 1931 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 27–5 25 February 13, 1932 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 14–13 26 December 10, 1932 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 20–17 27 February 11, 1933 East Lansing, MI Michigan 28–16 28 December 9, 1933 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 26–25 29 February 10, 1934 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 33–26 30 December 15, 1934 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 31–25 31 February 9, 1935 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 30–28 32 December 14, 1935 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 35–24 33 February 15, 1936 East Lansing, MI Michigan 41–23 34 December 12, 1936 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 34–21 35 February 13, 1937 East Lansing, MI Michigan 38–31 36 December 11, 1937 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 43–40 37 February 12, 1938 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 41–35 38 December 10, 1938 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 41–34 39 February 11, 1939 East Lansing, MI Michigan 30–25 40 December 9, 1939 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 33–27 41 January 20, 1940 East Lansing, MI Michigan 32–27 42 December 7, 1940 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 42–14 43 February 12, 1941 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 35–32 44 December 13, 1941 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 37–20 45 February 11, 1942 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 57–34 46 December 7, 1942 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 36–31 47 January 4, 1943 East Lansing, MI Michigan 29–26 48 December 1, 1945 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 47–39 49 January 7, 1946 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 49–36 50 December 7, 1946 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 51–29 51 March 1, 1947 East Lansing, MI Michigan 59–47 52 December 18, 1947 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 43–38 53 March 6, 1948 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 69–28 54 December 4, 1948 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 66–33 55 January 31, 1949 East Lansing, MI Michigan 49–38 56 December 3, 1949 East Lansing, MI Michigan 52–49 57 February 20, 1950 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 70–53 58 January 20, 1951 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 49–36 59 February 17, 1951 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 43–32 60 January 19, 1952 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 50–36 61 March 1, 1952 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 80–59 62 January 17, 1953 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 66–64 63 March 7, 1953 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 55–52 64 January 16, 1954 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 64–62 65 March 6, 1954 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 76–61 66 January 15, 1955 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 84–82 67 March 5, 1955 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 83–68 68 February 6, 1956 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 86–76 69 March 5, 1956 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 76–75 70 January 7, 1957 East Lansing, MI Michigan 70–69 71 March 4, 1957 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 81–72 72 February 17, 1958 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 79–69 73 February 14, 1959 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 103–91 74 January 9, 1960 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 89–58 75 February 27, 1960 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 72–65 76 January 16, 1961 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 81–69 77 February 13, 1961 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 78–67 78 January 20, 1962 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 80–74 79 February 2, 1963 East Lansing, MI Michigan 72–71 80 January 25, 1964 East Lansing, MI Michigan 91–77 81 February 1, 1964 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 95–79 82 January 26, 1965 East Lansing, MI Michigan 103–98 83 February 13, 1965 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 98–83 84 March 7, 1966 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 86–77 85 January 21, 1967 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 81–59 86 January 13, 1968 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 86–81 # Date Location Winner Score 87 February 3, 1968 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 82–77 88 January 25, 1969 East Lansing, MI Michigan 75–70 89 February 8, 1969 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 86–82 90 January 24, 1970 East Lansing, MI Michigan 91–88 91 March 6, 1971 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 88–63 92 January 8, 1972 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 83–75 93 March 4, 1972 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 96–92 94 January 13, 1973 East Lansing, MI Michigan 78–71 95 February 10, 1973 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 97–81 96 January 19, 1974 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 84–82 97 March 9, 1974 East Lansing, MI Michigan 103–87 98 January 11, 1975 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 86–78 99 February 8, 1975 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 96–84 100 January 17, 1976 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 66–63 101 February 14, 1976 East Lansing, MI Michigan 81–64 102 January 15, 1977 East Lansing, MI Michigan 83–70 103 February 26, 1977 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 69–65 104 February 2, 1978 East Lansing, MI Michigan 65–63 105 February 11, 1978 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 73–62 106 January 25, 1979 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 49–48 107 February 17, 1979 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 80–57 108 January 24, 1980 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 59–58 109 February 16, 1980 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 82–74 110 February 5, 1981 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 79–77 111 February 14, 1981 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 70–66 112 January 21, 1982 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 64–62 113 February 11, 1982 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 66–55 114 February 5, 1983 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 70–65 115 February 12, 1983 East Lansing, MI Michigan 74–67 116 February 2, 1984 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 72–67 117 February 11, 1984 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 71–61 118 January 24, 1985 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 86–75 119 February 23, 1985 East Lansing, MI Michigan 75–73 120 January 25, 1986 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 91–79 121 February 20, 1986 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 74–59 122 January 15, 1987 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 74–70 123 February 15, 1987 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 90–81 124 January 14, 1988 East Lansing, MI Michigan 90–72 125 February 22, 1988 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 77–67 126 February 4, 1989 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 82–66 127 February 27, 1989 East Lansing, MI Michigan 79–52 128 January 27, 1990 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 65–63 129 March 1, 1990 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 78–70 130 January 3, 1991 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 85–70 131 March 9, 1991 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 66–59 132 January 29, 1992 East Lansing, MI Michigan 89–79 133 February 15, 1992 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 70–59 134 January 5, 1994 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 75–64 135 February 5, 1994 East Lansing, MI Michigan 59–51 136 January 22, 1995 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 73–71 137 February 21, 1995 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 67–64 138 February 17, 1998 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 80–75 139 January 9, 1999 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 81–67 140 February 18, 1999 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 73–58 141 February 1, 2000 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 82–62 142 March 4, 2000 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 114–63 143 January 30, 2001 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 91–64 144 March 3, 2001 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 78–57 145 January 30, 2002 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 71–44 146 January 26, 2003 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 60–58 147 January 17, 2004 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 71–54 148 February 24, 2004 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 72–69 149 January 27, 2005 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 64–53 150 February 12, 2005 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 64–49 151 January 25, 2006 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 72–67 152 February 18, 2006 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 90–71 153 February 13, 2007 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 59–44 154 February 27, 2007 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 67–56 155 January 28, 2008 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 77–62 156 February 10, 2009 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 54–42 157 January 26, 2010 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 57–56 158 March 7, 2010 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 64–48 159 January 27, 2011 East Lansing, MI Michigan 61–57 160 March 5, 2011 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 70–63 161 January 17, 2012 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 60–59 162 February 5, 2012 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 64–54 163 February 12, 2013 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 75–52 164 March 3, 2013 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 58–57 165 January 25, 2014 East Lansing, MI Michigan 80–75 166 February 23, 2014 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 79–70 167 March 16, 2014 Indianapolis, IN Michigan State 69–55 168 February 1, 2015 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 76–66 169 February 17, 2015 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 80–67 170 February 6, 2016 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan State 89–73 Series: Michigan leads 90–80

Notes

References

1. Brodess, Doug (2013-02-11). "The 25 Bitterest Rivalries in College Basketball: 8. Michigan State vs. Michigan". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
2. "Michigan Men's Basketball History: History & Records (Through 2010-11 season): All-Time Series Records". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
3. "Michigan State Official Athletic Site". www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
4. Cnockaert, Jim (2002-03-22). "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 2008-08-12.
5. "Ed Martin, 69, Key Figure in Michigan Basketball Scandal". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 2003-02-18. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
6. Katz, Andy (2003-08-30). "Scandal won't keep Amaker from rebuilding Michigan". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
7. "Michigan State's rivalry basketball game with Michigan first of its kind". MLive. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
8. "No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 9 Michigan State final score: Wolverines outlast Spartans, 58-57". SBNation. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
9. Neddenriep, Kyle (2013-04-03). "Mr. Basketball: Hamilton Southeastern's Zak Irvin has gone from the junior varsity to No. 1". Indy Star. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
10. Quinn, Brendan F. (2013-11-02). "Gary Harris and Zak Irvin: Another side of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry". MLive.com. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
11. Bender, Bill (2014-01-23). "Why Michigan-Michigan State is Big Ten's best basketball rivalry". Sporting News. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
12. "Michigan-Michigan St. Preview". ESPN. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
13. "Saturday's Men's Basketball Results". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
14. "Michigan holds off short-handed Michigan St. to stay perfect in Big Ten". ESPN. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
15. "Postgame Notes #21 Michigan 80, #3 Michigan State 75". MGoBlue. CBS Interactive. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
16. "Postgame Notes: #22 Michigan State 69, #8 Michigan 55". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
17. "B1G Tourney final: Michigan vs. Michigan State". BTN.com. March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
18. "No. 22 Michigan St. stuns No. 8 Michigan to claim Big Ten". ESPN. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
19. "Michigan State Wins Big Ten Tournament Championship: Spartans down Michigan, 69-55, for tournament title". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
20. Jankens, Evan (2015-02-18). "Draymond Green And Nik Stauskas Finalize Their Michigan Vs. Michigan State Bet". CBS Detroit. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
21. "Postgame Notes: #8 Michigan State 75, #4 Michigan 52". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
22. "(4) Michigan 52 (21-4, 8-4 Big Ten); (8) Michigan St 75 (21-4, 10-2 Big Ten)". ESPN. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
23. "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. 2014-06-27. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
24. "Russell Westbrook has 6th triple-double in 8 games; OKC wins". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
25. "Timberwolves 99 (14-50, 5-26 away); Thunder 113 (36-29, 22-9 home)". ESPN. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
26. "ESPN Wolverine Basketball History". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
27. "ESPN Spartan Basketball History". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
28. "Big Ten Tournament All-Time Results" (PDF). CSTV.com. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
29. "Big Ten Conference Sports References". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
30. "NCAA College Basketball AP All-America Teams". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
31. "Naismith Award Records". NaismithAwards.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
32. "Big Ten Announces 2014 Men's Basketball Postseason Honors" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
33. http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/05/ed_martin_scandal_disassociati.html
34. http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/4734/what-does-vacating-wins-really-mean