WHO: #8 Michigan State Spartans (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten)

WHEN: 7:00 PM CT (Thursday, March 6, 2025)

WHERE: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, IA)

TV: FS1 (Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel)

RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network (Gary Dolphin, Bobby Hansen)

MOBILE: foxsports.com/mobile

ONLINE: foxsports.com/live

FOLLOW: @HawkeyeBeacon | @IowaHoops | @IowaonBTN

LINE: Michigan State -6.5 (total of 154.5)

KENPOM: Michigan State -7 (75% chance of winning)

The 2024-25 season is drawing to a close and for Iowa the end could be coming up very soon. Without a win in one of their final two games, the Hawkeyes' season will wrap up in Sunday's regular season finale at Nebraska, as Iowa is currently 16th in the Big Ten standings -- and only the top-15 teams in the league standings qualify for the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis next week.

So the Hawkeyes badly need a win if their season is going to extend beyond Sunday -- which is not an ideal time to be playing a red-hot Michigan State team. The 8th ranked Spartans all alone atop the Big Ten standings (two games up on Michigan in the loss column) and on a five-game winning streak -- a streak that's come entirely against teams ranked in the KenPom Top 30, no less. This is a very good Spartan squad playing some of its best basketball at the most important time of the year.

G Brock Harding (6'0", 165 lbs; 8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 5.4 apg, 44.0 FG%, 37.5 3FG%)

G Josh Dix (6'6", 210 lbs; 14.0 ppg; 3.1 rpg; 2.7 apg; 50.5 FG%; 42.0 3FG%)

F Payton Sandfort (6'8", 215 lbs; 16.1 ppg; 6.2 rpg; 3.0 apg; 39.7 FG%; 33.3 3FG%)

F Seydou Traore (6'7", 220 lbs; 6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 43.0 FG%, 24.1 3FG%)

F Ladji Dembele (6'8", 255 lbs; 4.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.6 apg; 45.0 FG%, 40.6 3FG%)

G Jaden Akins (6'4", 195 lbs; 12.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 40.3 FG%, 29.4 3FG%)

G Jase Richardson (6'3", 185 lbs; 11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 52.0 FG%, 39.2 3FG%)

G Jeremy Fears (6'2", 190 lbs; 6.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 39.3 FG%, 39.3 3FG%)

F Jaxon Kohler (6'9", 245 lbs; 7.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 49.4 FG%, 30.2 3FG%)

C Szymon Zapala (7'0", 245 lbs; 4.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 65.5 FG%, 0.0 3FG%)

Michigan State's strong play this season has featured good play on both sides of the ball, but the Spartans have really excelled on the defense, where they rank 5th in defensive efficiency. They lead the Big Ten in defensive efficiency -- by a wide margin -- and they've achieved that high mark by dominating at a few areas: contesting (and blocking) shots, preventing offensive rebounds, and harassing three-point attempts.

Opponents are posting an effective FG% of 45.2% against MSU, lowest in the Big Ten. The Spartans have been good at defending 2-point attempts (49.1%, 4th in the league), but they've been outstanding at defending the 3-point line, where opponents are making just 26.6% of their attempts this year in conference games. That's an alarming stat for an Iowa team that tends to live or die this season on its ability to hit 3-pointers.

MSU has also been excellent at blocking shots --13.7% of opponent possessions, tops in the league -- and denying offensive rebounds -- 25.2% of opponent possessions, also best in the league. The Spartans do foul a fair amount (12th in the league in free throw rate) and they don't force a lot of turnovers, but aside from that the MSU defense has been playing at a very high level this season.

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On offense, Michigan State has been solid as well -- 31st nationally in offensive efficiency and 4th in league games in offensive efficiency. MSU has done that by being elite on the offensive glass (grabbing 36.2% of their misses, best in the Big Ten), getting to the free throw line a lot (3rd in the Big Ten in free throw rate), and making a lot of those free throws (78.8%, 2nd best in the Big Ten).

Impressively, Michigan State ranks so highly in offensive efficiency despite turning the ball over a fair amount (13th in turnover rate) and not being an especially good shooting squad. MSU ranks 12th in effective FG% (50.9%) in the Big Ten, which includes 51.9% shooting on 2-point attempts (10th in the league) and a sluggish 32.4% on 3-point tries (15th in the Big Ten).

The strength of this Spartan squad is not individual stars but overwhelming depth. 10 players have played at least 28 games this year and averaged at least 14 minutes per game; this Spartan team comes at you in waves. Just two players are averaging double figures in scoring -- guards Jaden Akins (team-high 12.9 ppg) and Jase Richardson (11.0 ppg) -- but eight other players are averaging at least 5.0 ppg this year.

In addition to Akins and Richardson, guards Tre Holloman and Jeremy Fears, Jr. have also been key contributors for MSU. Hollomon averages 8.6 ppg (third-most), while Fears, Jr. adds 6.8 ppg. He and Richardson have also been MSU's two most potent 3-point shooters, converting over 39% of their attempts from deep this year.

At forward, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Frankie Fidler have provided a potent trio of options. Kohler leads the team with 7.9 rpg, while adding 7.9 ppg on 49.4% shooting. Carr has added 7.8 ppg on 62.8% shooting, while Fidler has chipped in 7.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg as well.

Finally, MSU also has a trio of capable bigs to use down low as well. Szymon Zapala gets the start there and has averaged 4.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg on 65.5% shooting in 15.3 mpg this season. Xavier Booker has been the highest-scoring option (5.5 ppg), while Carson Cooper has added 5.1 ppg and 4.8 rpg on 61.9% shooting.