Michigan State vs. Michigan: What's on the Line in Rivalry Clash?

Michigan and Michigan State will settle more than an in-state score Tuesday in Ann Arbor, they’ll settle their seasons.

Riding high from a 59-56 victory over Ohio State on St. Denzel Valentine’s Day, the Spartans (17-8, 8-4 Big Ten) are now on the hunt for a few more confidence-building wins as they march toward March. Getting one at the Crisler Center after knocking off the Buckeyes would certainly highlight their successful stretch.

Decimated by injuries and bad luck, the Wolverines (13-12, 6-7 B1G) have been all but completely dismissed from the NCAA tournament conversation. They’ve lost four in a row and desperately need a pick-me-up before closing the door on a season of could-have-been.

With that said, on Feb. 1, they took the somewhat-favored Spartans into overtime. They lost 76-66, but they hung tight without star point guard Derrick Walton and wing Caris LeVert, further emphasizing the “expect the unexpected” aspect of one of college basketball’s great rivalries.

Tom Izzo’s team may have the momentum, but John Beilein’s Wolverines continue to treat each game like it’s their last.

Nothing will be given Tuesday in Ann Arbor.

Laying Claim

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Historically speaking, Michigan State’s meeting with Michigan on Tuesday will provide context to the rivalry. Izzo hasn’t swept Michigan since 2009-10, but he has a chance to erase that five-year drought from memory by winning on Tuesday.

Another mark in the win column would also pad Izzo’s chances of making an 18th consecutive appearance in the national tournament. It’d also give this year’s four-year seniors a winning record over Michigan—they’re 4-4 versus the Wolverines since Jan. 17, 2012.

Spartans senior point guard Travis Trice and senior forward Branden Dawson aren’t from Michigan, but they have played some of their most emotional games against Beilein-coached teams. It’d be safe to assume that they’re approaching Tuesday as a legacy-defining moment—and it will be one, especially since it looks like they could also be the second group of four-year players to miss a Final Four under Izzo.

In 2013-14, Adreian Payne and Keith Appling’s class was the first to miss the mark. The 2010 recruits also posted a 3-6 record versus Michigan.

Trice offered his thoughts on the rivalry prior to Michigan State’s 76-66 win Feb. 1, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press:

"

The expectations of this team weren’t as high coming in this year. But I think as of late they kind of fell off. And it’s kind of gotten to us, I think in a good way, where now we’re kind of out to prove some of the people jumped ship on us, prove them wrong.

And we’re playing not for ourselves but for the past players, too, and our coaches and our fans. So I think we’ve really realized that there’s more at stake than just us right now.

"

Making it to the Final Four is always the goal for the Spartans, but beating Michigan is equally important. Izzo feels the same way (per Rexrode).

"If every game just means the same, to me, you should never come to a school like this,” Izzo said.

Take Trice and Izzo’s comments from earlier this month, multiply the intensity level by roughly 10-fold, and you’ll have an accurate forecast for Tuesday.

Another element in favor of the Spartans is Valentine, a junior who grew up in the shadow of Michigan State basketball. His 25-point, seven-assist and seven-rebound effort Feb. 1 was one of the finest of his career.

After splashing the game-winner versus Ohio State, it’d be safe to assume that he’s looking to punctuate the year with another highlight showing against a rival.

Battling Through

Al Goldis/Associated Press

Michigan basketball has been “back” for a few years due to Beilein’s coaching and development. Walton, one of his rising stars, missed the game Feb. 1. Being perched on crutches kept him from suiting up that day, and there’s a possibility that he could miss Tuesday’s affair.

However, Beilein has recently said that he hoped for Walton’s return. It doesn’t look probable, though.

This season’s over and there’s no sense in putting Walton at risk. But he’ll go if he can go. The in-state rivalry burns deep inside guys such as Walton, who is from Detroit.  Downing the Spartans would be a crowning moment for Walton, but it’d also keep dim hopes for a tournament bid on life support.

Prior to Feb. 1, Beilein had won six of eight versus Izzo. According to most, Michigan had pulled even—both record-wise and perception-wise—with Izzo’s Spartans, who had dominated the series up until 2011. Beilein realizes what’s on the line. He’s a smart man. Despite four consecutive losses, he’ll have Michigan prepared to the nth degree.

He had them right for Feb. 1; they just ran out of gas in the extra frame and were outscored, 10-0. They were outscored, 14-2, during a 62-54 road loss to Illinois this past Thursday but battled with great determination for the first 40 minutes.

Tuesday’s game will be more than a rivalry brawl and potential spoiler for the Wolverines—it’ll be the gut checks of all gut checks for a team that was supposed to roll over weeks ago. Yet it keeps on going, regardless of timing or circumstance.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan/Michigan State basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or through other media availability.