Spartan tipoff

• Where: Breslin Center in East Lansing

• When: 7 p.m. today

• TV/Radio: ESPN2; Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM

• Records: MSU is 11-2 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten; Ohio State is 10-2, 1-1.

• Series: MSU leads 61-50.

• Coaches: MSU - Tom Izzo is 316-132 in his 14th season, all with the Spartans. Ohio State- Thad Matta is 217-68 in his ninth season overall and 115-37 in his fifth with the Buckeyes.

• Projected lineups

MSU

Pos. Name PPG

C (14) Goran Suton (6-10) 9.7

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

F (2) Raymar Morgan (6-8) 15.4

G (5) Travis Walton (6-2) 6.4

G (1) Kalin Lucas (6-0) 12.8

Ohio State

Pos. Name PPG

C (52) Dallas Lauderdale (6-8) 6.9

F (21) Evan Turner (6-7) 16.2

G (44) William Buford (6-5) 8.3

G (2) Jeremie Simmons (6-2) 7.0

G (33) Jon Diebler (6-6) 11.8

• MSU update: After reviewing the Northwestern game, Izzo liked his team's play for two-thirds of it and, "Maybe that beats Northwestern, but it's not gonna beat some other teams," he said. He plans to get Roe back into the starting lineup tonight in place of Idong Ibok to counter Ohio State's small lineup and hopes to keep solidifying the playing rotation. In its seven games since a 98-63 loss to North Carolina on Dec. 3, MSU is shooting 49.2 percent compared with 38.4 percent for its opponents. The Spartans have a plus-14.4 rebound margin in that time and are getting 14.6 points and 6.6 assists a game from Lucas.

• Ohio State update: This team is struggling and shorthanded of late. Junior guard David Lighty, a key cog in Matta's lineup and the most experienced player on the team, is out for another four to eight weeks after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand. Plus, freshman guard Noopy Crater of Flint transferred after just 10 games because of playing time concerns. So OSU basically goes eight deep now, with just six players averaging double figures in minutes. After impressive early wins against Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame, the Buckeyes have lost two of three, with a 76-48 home blowout against West Virginia and Sunday's 68-59 loss at Minnesota. Matta is playing a lot of zone again this year. And while MSU is wary of turnovers, the Spartans will have chances for more offensive rebounds.

Matchups

• Backcourts: Ohio State misses Jamar Butler, although Simmons, a transfer from Mott Community College in Flint, is doing a solid job with a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Buford is an extremely gifted freshman who can score, while Diebler appears to have emerged from last season's shooting woes. Watch for Walton and others to work hard to limit his open looks. Lucas is playing as well as anyone in the league through two games.

Edge: MSU

• Frontcourts: Turner vs. Morgan is the individual matchup of the night. Turner has taken a huge leap as a sophomore, adding 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals to his team-leading scoring. He's quick with a nice crossover dribble, but Morgan probably has been MSU's best defender this season. Suton and Lauderdale is another interesting pairing. Lauderdale is extremely strong at 255 pounds, while Suton has the edge in height and skills.

Edge: MSU

• Benches: The main guy off the bench for OSU is freshman center B.J. Mullens, who is all of 7-1 but hasn't quite lived up to the hype (6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds). He's a presence, though, and Ibok figures to see some time on him. OSU also has backup point guard P.J. Hill and big man Kyle Madsen off the bench. MSU has a big advantage with Chris Allen, Durrell Summers, Marquise Gray, Korie Lucious and Draymond Green.

Edge: MSU

• Prediction: With students still on break and no Izzone present, Breslin won't be as imposing. The deeper Spartans still should pull away in the second half.

• Make it: MSU 78, Ohio State 66