“We’re gonna get them one of these times.”
That was Greg Kampe on his weekly radio show while previewing his upcoming 23rd battle with Tom Izzo and Michigan State. The Golden Grizzlies are 0-22 in the series.
This year’s edition features a top 20-ranked Spartan team, and an Oakland bunch trying to find their way, but a big difference in ranking has not meant always meant a big difference on the scoreboard.
Out of those 22 games, the two programs have met in the home of the Pistons seven times. In those seven games, the average margin of victory for MSU is 10, in the other 15 (including one in Rochester), it’s 22.
The scares have almost exclusively been at a neutral site, where Oakland is the home team. In 2010 Michigan State squeaked out a 77-76 win, 2013 saw a four-point margin, while the classic 2015 game needed Overtime to decide it. 2017 and 2021 saw two possession games in the final minutes as well. History could be telling us to buckle up.
This game will feature the two longest tenured D1 head coaches in the country, as Greg Kampe and Tom Izzo continue to lead their programs. Kampe is in year 41, while Izzo enjoys year 30.
Izzo’s group this year features a balanced attack, with seven players averaging more than seven points. Familiar face Jaden Akins is the leader at 13 points a game and is the only one on either roster who has played in an Oakland/Michigan State game in Detroit. Freshman Jase Richardson and transfer Frankie Filder average double digits, while Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler lead the inside attack.
The Spartans currently sit onto of the Big Ten at 2-0 and are 8-2 overall. They have wins over North Carolina and Colorado in the Maui Invitational.
Much like Oakland, Michigan State has struggled from deep, shooting 27% from three so far this year. Not letting a three-point explosion will be a huge key for Oakland to stay attached in this one.
Shots always seem to fall in this game for Oakland, so this could be a good chance for guys like DQ Cole, Jayson Woodrich and Malcolm Christie to put up some numbers.
One other interesting note about the Spartans is who is on staff. While the coaches and programs are certainly already familiar with each other, Michigan State’s bench features some Oakland blood. Saddi Washington is an MSU assistant after spending almost a decade at Michigan. He was on Greg Kampe’s staff from 2006-2016, making two NCAA Tournaments. Blake Lampman, OU’s all-time games played leader and captain of last year’s historic team, is a Graduate Assistant for Tom Izzo.
This game has become a nice tradition in Detroit every couple of years around the holidays, and another huge crowd is expected at Little Caeser’s Arena.
If you are not able to attend, the game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 at 7pm Eastern Time.
