Spartan Hoopla: Michigan State-Purdue Isn't Just a Game, It's a Story

A three-game slide, a 74-67 loss to the then 12th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at home, and Kalin Lucas' ankle injury—three curveballs that have caught the Spartans off-guard in 2010.

However, these three "bumps" in the road have not and will not define the 14th-ranked Michigan State Spartans' (11-4, 21-7) season—Feb. 28 against Matt Painter's third-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (11-3, 23-3) will.

Sunday's matchup just doesn't have conference title implications; the game itself is so much more than that. Sunday's winner will likely have at least a share of the Big Ten pie, that's a given. Painter's crew recovered from their slide, and Izzo's bunch are trying to get back on track. After deflating Sparty 76-64 Feb. 9 at the Breslin Center, there's no question that Kalin Lucas and friends have revenge on their minds.

Revenge, share of a conference title, and redemption may be the key motivators on Sunday for the Big Ten's perennial powerhouse, but something else is lingering.

Perhaps the Feb. 28 duel with the Boilers will forecast the weather for the Izzo clan come March, a month that comes in like a lamb but leaves like a lion: a perfect analogy for the Spartans.

Hobbling, wounded, and meek—the lamb.

But Michigan State is known for bravado and strong finishes in March—the lion.

Five Final Fours since 1999 and a National Championship are viable indicators of what to expect. If one thing is for certain in college basketball, no one will overlook the Spartans—league banner or not. Counting State out would be a grave mistake; the Spartans' reputation alone precedes them.

To put it in simple terms: The Spartans have an axe-to-grind. And individually, a player has a legacy to seal.

That player is Raymar "Captain" Morgan.

Morgan appeared to develop into a bonafide superstar in his sophomore season (2007-08). He averaged 14 points per game, and the sky (and beyond) was the limit—or so Spartan fans thought.

Fast forward to 2010, and Morgan is less the veteran senior leader but more of a broken promise. He's scoring just a hair over 10 points per contest (10.3) and has failed to live up to his abilities for the last two years. Morgan was supposed to blossom into an all-time Spartan, but all hope is not lost—there's still time.

If ever a time arose when Sparty needed the 6'8" Morgan, it's now. Morgan possesses the athletic ability to lead State to the Promised Land—can he do it?

It's not just about one game or win Sunday.

There's a story line that has overshadowed this Big Ten battle.

A grudge match?

Of course. 

A way to make the critics eat their words?

You bet.

Michigan State defended its "generous" preseason No. 2 ranking to nth degree since December.

Is Feb. 28 the day the Spartans can claim what was anticipated to be theirs in the first place—the Big Ten title?

Right again.

In his last "big" regular season game in a Michigan State uniform, is Sunday the day that Morgan could leave a lasting impression in the minds of Spartan fans, writing his own legacy?

Without a shadow of a doubt.

Sunday's Michigan State-Purdue squabble surpasses the element of being 40 minutes of basketball—it's an epic tale.