Is Valentine still out for MSU? Oakland pushed State to double OT. I would like to hope for a miracle win for the Gophers, but I will be thrilled if we keep it close.
From the East Lansing Journal
•MSUupdate: The Spartans took their first loss of the season in their second game without star Denzel Valentine, falling 83-70 at Iowa on Tuesday. It wasn’t an unexpected loss, given the Hawkeyes’ experience and hunger — no one on that roster had ever beaten MSU. A lot of teams in the Big Ten will lose at Iowa. Not as many at Minnesota. That makes today’s game important in the Big Ten race, because other contenders aren’t likely to have a loss to the Gophers. The Spartans should have learned over the last two games that nothing comes easy without Valentine. Toughness, rebounding and defense are their ticket to surviving the rest of Valentine’s absence. Eron Harris has found his game offensively in Valentine’s place, scoring 27 and 21 points, respectively, against Oakland and Iowa. Marvin Clark moved into the starting lineup at power forward against Iowa, replacing Javon Bess. Izzo will coach today and then attend his father’s funeral on Sunday in Iron Mountain. Carl Izzo died on Monday at the age of 90.
•Minnesota update: Minnesota, which began the season 5-2 and beat Clemson in the ACC/Big Ten challenge, has fallen hard of late. The Gophers have lost five of their last six games, including back-to-back at home to South Dakota and South Dakota State. They dropped their Big Ten opener Wednesday at Ohio State, 78-63. Minnesota’s issues aren’t isolated. Defending, rebounding, shooting — it’s all been a struggle at times. The Gophers are led offensively by 6-foot-9 Drake graduate transfer Joey King (13.2 ppg., 28 3s) and sophomore point guard Nate Mason (12.3 points, 4.2 assists). The up-and-comer to watch, however, is freshman forward Jordan Murphy, who’s tallied a double-double in each of the Gophers’ last six games.
•Prediction:
MSU isn’t going to win easily on the road until Valentine returns. As long as the Spartans embrace that mindset early in this game, they can bully Minnesota on the boards and should have enough offense to win this one without sweating through the final minute. MSU made just 3 of 13 3-pointers at Iowa. The long-range shot is too much a part of MSU’s game to win without it.
» Make it: MSU 75, Minnesota 68
— Graham Couch
