After a hot start to the non-conference slate and a significant Big Ten win over Purdue back in December, Mike Rhoades and Penn State have cooled off considerably. The Nittany Lions are now 12-5 (2-4) after three straight losses in conference play, 77-71 to Indiana at the Palestra, 91-52 to Illinois in Champaign, and 82-81 at home to Oregon on Sunday afternoon.
The loss to Illinois was compounded by the loss of Ace Baldwin Jr., the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, who left the game with a back injury. Baldwin was out on Sunday against Oregon, but Freddie Dilione V provided a silver lining in a one-point loss. The redshirt sophomore Tennessee transfer shouldered much of the offensive burden and finished with 21 points on 6/12 shooting. If Baldwin is out on Wednesday night in East Lansing, it could be the Dilione show once again for the Nittany Lions, but it won’t be easy.
By Kenpom, Michigan State is No. 11 in the country in defensive rating. With a balanced offensive attack on the other end, led by Jaden Akins, Tom Izzo’s Spartans have won nine straight games, dating back to a November 27th overtime victory against North Carolina. On Sunday, Izzo's squad rolled 78-68 on the road at Northwestern behind a 12-point, eight-assist outing by freshman Jeremy Fears Jr.
It’s his team’s third straight game against a ranked opponent, but Rhoades needs to stop the spiral. Here’s how you can watch this Big Ten matchup with big stakes on Wednesday night.
How to watch Penn State vs. No. 12 Michigan State
- Date: Wednesday, January 15
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Michigan)
- How to Watch: Big Ten Network
- How to stream: Fubo TV
- Penn State record: 12-5 (2-4)
- Michigan State record: 14-2 (5-0)