Preview: Illinois at Michigan State

[January 07, 2016]  Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine will miss his fourth straight game Thursday when the fifth-ranked Spartans host Illinois, but the dynamic Wooden Award candidate shouldn’t be out much longer. The Spartans have gone 2-1 without Valentine, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Dec. 21 and hopes to return Sunday against Penn State.

Coach Tom Izzo’s squad spent four weeks as the nation’s top-ranked team but has struggled defensively without Valentine, who averages 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists. “We’re reeling a little bit as you can tell,” Izzo told reporters. “We’re just trying to shuffle guys around, and we’re not very fluid right now. We are missing a hell of a player. I don't care if it’s an excuse or not. He does so many things for us.” Valentine’s status could spell an upset opportunity for Illinois, which has dropped six straight road games and opened Big Ten play with consecutive losses to Michigan and Ohio State. The Illini are last in the conference in rebounding margin at minus-3.1 but could exploit Valentine’s absence with a breakout performance by 6-foot-10 freshman forward Michael Finke, who is averaging 13.4 points on 54.9 percent shooting over the last eight games.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT ILLINOIS (8-7, 0-2 Big Ten): Guards Kendrick Dunn and Malcolm Hill rank as the highest-scoring duo in the Big Ten at 36.4 points per game, and the two combined to score 33 points in last season’s 59-54 win at Michigan State. Nunn has scored in double figures in all 10 games since making his season debut Nov. 27 and averages a team-high 18.5 points, while Hill leads the Illini in total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. The backcourt also features freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands, who is averaging 9.2 points while shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (14-1, 1-1): The Spartans bounced back from their first loss with a 69-61 win over Minnesota on Saturday as guard Bryn Forbes scored 20 points and forward Matt Costello added 17 points and 15 rebounds. Izzo continues to be pleased by the play of guard Eron Harris, who has started the last three games in place of Valentine and averaged a team-best 19.3 points along with five rebounds. Forward Deyonta Davis, a 6-foot-10 freshman who has dazzled at times while playing 17 minutes per game, could be a key factor Thursday as Izzo looks to neutralize Finke’s size in the frontcourt.

TIP-INS

1. The all-time series is tied at 58, but Michigan State has won nine of the last 14 meetings.

2. Izzo is 17-3 in Big Ten home openers, including winning 12 of his last 13.

3. Eighteen of the last 19 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 79, Illinois 66

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