Prediction, Preview, TV, Betting Line

On By Littum

• What: Michigan State vs. Niagara

• When: 20.00 Thursday

• Where: Breslin Center

• TV/Radio: Big Ten Network/Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; Sirius/XM Ch. 84

• Records/Rankings: MSU is 1-0 and unranked. Niagara is 1-0 and is also unranked.

MORE: Couch: 3 rushing touchdowns in MSU’s 81-57 ​​season-opening win over Monmouth

• Effort line: MSU -27.5

• Trainers: Michigan State – Tom Izzo is 708-295 in his 30th season as a head coach, all with the Spartans. niagara – Greg Paulus is 68-78 in his sixth season as a head coach, all with the Purple Eagles.

• Series: This is the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Expected lineups

Michigan State

C (10) Szymon Zapala (7-0) 9.0

F (34) Xavier Booker (6-11) 4.0

G (8) Frankie Fidler (6-7) 9.0

G (3) Jaden Akins (6-4) 23.0

PG (1) Jeremy Fears (6-2) 3.0

Niagara

C (12) Jaylon Martinez (6-11) 11.0

F (8) Justice Smith (6-6) 11.0

G (1) Olumide Adelodun (6-5) 15.0

G (11) Jahari Williamson (6-1) 16.0

G (4) Josiah Davis (6-3) 11.0

• MSU update: The Spartans beat Monmouth, 81-57, in their Monday night opener. Taking on a more leadership role this season, Jaden Akins had what MSU coaches described as his most complete game, with 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists and outstanding play on the defensive end. MSU went just 3-for-18 from beyond the arc, but scored 25 fast-break points and out-rebounded Monmouth 48-31. After Thursday night’s date with Niagara, the Spartans’ schedule gets tougher as MSU faces Kansas next Tuesday in the Champions Classic in Atlanta.

MORE: Couch: Analyzing Michigan State basketball’s 2024-25 roster, player by player

• Niagara Update: The Purple Eagles are coming off a 100-65 over Division-III Houghton (NY) College on Monday night. It’s hard to get much out of that game where Niagara’s opponent is two levels down. Niagara went 16-16 last season and 11-9 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. None of that is relevant. This is a team with 13 new scholarship players, so there is very little to scout. As a program, Niagara’s one head coach is sixth-year head coach Greg Paulus, known for his playing career at Duke before spending one season as Syracuse’s quarterback.

• Matchup Analysis: This is a scouting report nightmare for MSU, which has entrusted assistant coach Jon Borovich with coming up with the game plan. Niagara has nine transfers among its 13 new players. What we do know about the Purple Eagles is that they essentially play four guards and wings around a big guy, 6-11 UC-Riverside transfer Jhaylon Martinez. That will test MSU power forward Xavier Booker and Jaxon Kohler defensively playing against smaller players and will make MSU’s Coen Carr even more comfortable as an undersized 4-man. Niagara has quick guards who can get to the bucket, led by point guard Jahari Williamson.

• Prediction: MSU played with an intensity and a goal on both ends in their opener, helping the Spartans overcome poor outside shooting. That’s a good sign for the Spartans — that this MSU team doesn’t need to hit 3-pointers to put away lesser teams. This is probably an even smaller opponent, though it’s hard to tell.

• Make it: MSU 85, Niagara 58

– Graham Couch