Quick facts for Oakland MSU
This will be Oakland’s 14th matchup with the Spartans. Michigan State has won the previous 13. They’ve played once a year since 2012.
12-0 is Michigan State’s best start since 2000-01. The Spartans lost to Arizona in the Final Four that year.
Denzel Valentine won’t play for Michigan State after suffering a knee injury in practice on Sunday. Tom Izzo says junior guard Eron Harris will take Valentine’s starting spot while he is out.
The last time Oakland played a number one ranked school was Kansas in 2009, a team featuring current Piston Marcus Morris and his twin brother. Kansas won 89-59.
The Golden Grizzlies played number one ranked UCLA in 2006, losing 74 to 53. That team featured three current pros: Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
Jalen Hayes teamed with MSU’s Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes to win a pair of Michigan Class B State Championships at Lansing Sexton High School, playing for Valentine’s father, Carlton.
The key matchup to watch will be Tum Tum Nairn trying to slow down preseason Horizon League player of the year Kahlil Felder. Felder is currently third in the country in scoring according to the NCAA at 25.9 points per game and first in the country in assists at 8.9 per.
Martez Walker will play in his second game tonight for the Golden Grizzlies. He scored 18 points in his first game against Washington on Saturday. The highly touted transfer from Texas will likely be in the conversation for Horizon League newcomer of the year.
The game tips at 7 p.m. at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
