Michigan State Vs Illinois: Who Will Step Up as Conference Front-Runner?

Saturday's matchup between Illinois and Michigan State may seem like your run-of-the-mill January Big Ten contest.

It's not.

Both the Illini and Spartans sit atop the conference at 4-0. The seventh ranked Spartans have a chance to gain an early advantage in the league Saturday. Even if it's just a game ahead of Illinois in the win column, a weekend victory over the visiting Illini could set the tone for the rest of State's conference schedule.

The Spartans have one of the best benches in the nation. With guys like Durrell Summers, Chris Allen, and Draymond Green jumping off the pine to contribute quality minutes, it's no surprise.

Izzo's Spartans are again the team to beat in the Big Ten. When fine-tuned, State can be just as dangerous as any unit in the country.

Perimeter shooting is one of the Illini's strengths. Illinois guard, D.J. Richardson, has been stroking threes at a maniacal rate of 47.1 percent. Richardson gives the Illini a deep threat, something that the Spartans have struggled defending thus far.

Richardson went 3-for-6 from downtown against Indiana on January 9th, helping the Illini to hold off the Hoosiers, 66-60.

Averaging 10.9 ppg in roughly 30 minutes, Richardson is a viable threat—Durrell Summers and Chris Allen will undoubtedly split shifts checking him.

Richardson isn't the only guy who can score from beyond the arc. There's Demetri McCamey too.

McCamey hasn't had quite the stroke from three-land that Richardson has, but he's still dangerous. McCamey is shooting 37.1 percent from long-distance this year.

One thing that Illinois has that State doesn't is a bona fide big man—Mike Tisdale. The 7'1" junior is averaging six boards per game and just over 12 points. The advantage that goes to Michigan State's "big men" is the physical factor. Although undersized, Delvon Roe and Draymond Green have the hard-nosed style that Tisdale lacks.

Controlling the tempo will dictate the outcome of this one, folks. Illinois can run-and-gun and grind it out, which is evident by the team's last three conference pairings.

The Illini have scored over 60 points once in their three meetings with in-conference foes. They're coming off a 54-53 nail-biter with Penn State earlier this week and don't want to open that can of worms with the Spartans. 

Factor in that two of the best coaching minds in the land, Tom Izzo and Bruce Weber, will be intent on out-coaching one another in this chess match, and the type of game that will unfold will be decided upon in the first five minutes.

Izzo likes the "working man's" style—tough, not necessarily pretty, but it gets the job done.

Weber favors perimeter shooting. Looking for the chance to run, Izzo can play that game too. One thing is for sure: These two teams stack up virtually evenly. 

Here's the breakdown:

PPG: Illinois 75.7, MSU 78.8

RPG: 38.3, MSU 40.9

FG%: 46.5%, MSU 49.5%

Whether it's a game where speed is king, or it's a good old fashioned 60-point-grinder, it's important to both squads when it comes to establishing a clear-cut leader in the conference.

The Illinois/Michigan State rivalry is one of the best that the Big Ten has to offer. There's a great chance that this one could be settled by the freebies at the charity stripe.

Illinois is second when it comes to free throw shooting at 73.2 percent. Michigan State is eighth at a meager 67.8 percent.

Will Chris Allen finally break out his shooting slump?

Will Kalin Lucas take control like Spartan fans have been waiting for all season? 

It'll all be settled at the Bres' on Saturday afternoon.