Spartan tipoff: No. 10 MSU vs. Northwestern

• Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.

• When: 7 p.m. today

• TV/radio: Big Ten Network; Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM

• Records: MSU is 10-2 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten; Northwestern is 8-3, 0-1.

• Series: MSU leads 76-36.

• Coaches: MSU - Tom Izzo is 315-132 in his 14th season, all with the Spartans. Northwestern- Bill Carmody is 203-163 in his 13th season overall, and 111-138 in his ninth with the Wildcats.

• Projected lineups

MSU

Pos. Name PPG

C (14) Goran Suton (6-10) 10.3

F (10) Delvon Roe (6-8) 5.3

F (2) Raymar Morgan (6-8) 14.8

G (5) Travis Walton (6-2) 6.8

G (1) Kalin Lucas (6-0) 12.4

Northwestern

Pos. Name PPG

C (54) Kyle Rowley (7-0) 5.0

F (44) Kevin Coble (6-8) 14.3

F (24) John Shurna (6-8) 10.4

G (22) Michael Thompson (5-10) 10.3

G (20) Craig Moore (6-3) 13.5

• MSU update: Roe starting is no guarantee, but he played five minutes in Wednesday's win at Minnesota and has been able to practice some on his bum ankle. If he doesn't start, Izzo may stick with Idong Ibok, who has provided some quality minutes of late. Ibok doesn't really fit against this type of team, though. The Spartans have won 38 of 40 against Northwestern, and Izzo is 21-2 against the Wildcats. MSU typically shreds Carmody's 1-3-1 zone and does a good job against his Princeton offense. Rebounding and free-throw shooting are improving for MSU. The Spartans crushed Minnesota 49-27 on the boards. And after struggling at the line for most of the season, MSU is 19 of 20 in its past two games. This is MSU's ninth game away from Breslin Center out of 13.

• Northwestern update: Scoff if you must, but this is a pretty good basketball team. Izzo calls it "by far their best team in recent years." The Wildcats are executing that 1-3-1 well, holding opponents to 37.8 percent shooting - second in the Big Ten. And Carmody has played a reputable schedule. He also has the most prolific shooter in the league in Moore and a fast-developing, fast-running sophomore point guard in Thompson. Freshmen Shurna and Rowley bring quality size to the lineup and, voila, a team that can get Carmody off the hot seat. Northwestern should be able to get to the NIT this season, and there's no question that the Wildcats will beat some people at home. If they can slow this game to a crawl, they can scare the Spartans.

Matchups

• Backcourts: Lucas looked like the best player in the Big Ten against Minnesota, and much more aggressive than he was earlier in the season. Walton continues to earn his starting job with defense, leadership and the occasional jumper. Thompson is really coming on for the Wildcats, and Moore is the Big Ten's most dangerous long-range shooter.
Edge: MSU

• Frontcourts: Rowley gives the Wildcats something they haven't had in recent memory, a huge presence inside (7-0, 280) who can eat some space. Coble is still the team's best all-around player, and Shurna complements him well. Suton has been good on both ends after missing six games because of a knee injury. Morgan's shot isn't falling of late, but he's rebounding and hitting his free throws.
Edge: MSU

• Benches: Jeff Ryan is a solid forward and sixth man for the Wildcats, and Luka Mirkovic also brings size and skills. Jeremy Nash and Sterling Williams are guards with experience. MSU is getting more out of Chris Allen and Durrell Summers, but it's looking for more out of Marquise Gray. And don't forget freshmen Draymond Green and Korie Lucious.
Edge: MSU

• Prediction: Northwestern is no cellar dweller this year, but Carmody's system has yet to match up well with Izzo's.

• Make it: MSU 71, Northwestern 60

- Joe Rexrode