The Spartans roll into the 2025 portion of their schedule at 12-2, 3-0 in conference play, and on a seven game win streak. We’re tied for the league lead and have Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue a half game back at 3-1 (Nebraska and UCLA follow just behind at 2-1).
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MSU will look to extend the streak back at the Bres’ on Thursday night for an 8 PM tip against the University of Washington. The game will be broadcast on BTN and it will be a Green Day (“Go Green, Wear Green”). It’s also the Izzone Reunion Game, so if you attend, don’t be the douche in a Burberry jacket and leave your Red Wings Jersey at home – it’s not about you. Wear Green.
The Huskies come in at 1-3 in the league, nearly guarding the bottom alongside Minnie, and are 10-3 overall. However they did have an impressive win recently, on January 2nd, hosting the then #24 Maryland on Star Wars Night! ((cough) note to Breslin Event Planners…). The Great Osobor, a Senior Forward Transfer from Utah State, tossed down 20 and grabbed 14 boards in 36 minutes, coming up just 4 turnovers or 7 fouls shy of a Triple-Double. Two players off the bench Vazoumana Diallo and DJ Davis had 18 and 17 points in their respective 28 and 24 minutes. One other starter, Tyree Ihenacho, had 31 minutes, though for a quiet night with just 4 points. Four players’ minutes were in the teens and three in single digits with five buckets total from the group.
Osobor’s first name really is Great. He earned AP All-American Honorable Mention and Mountain West Player and Newcomer of the Year honors last season. True Freshman Diallo joined the team as the Number 1 recruit from the state of Washington and the Number 3 point guard in the country. He has some learning curve, as his near 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio indicates, but seems to be making some adjustments to the game. DJ Davis is a Senior Guard Transfer from Butler where he started all 33 games for the Bulldogs last season, playing more than 29 minutes/game and notching 13 and a half points per game, good for third on the team – though second on the team in Three’s and Steals. He’s also money from the line with a 95.0% mark which put him first nationally and second in Butler history.
The Huskies have talent – what they don’t seem to have on the stat sheet is equivalent depth. That said, the Maryland win shows the Huskies finding some coherence. Even though the Huskies dropped a heartbreaker to Illinois on Sunday, it came down to the last possession. The Spartans will be looking to wear down the stars and we should have a solid advantage with the bigs. However, the Huskies have the talent and growing belief in them to make this a battle, records aside.
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Overall Stats-wise, Washington has put up about 74 ppg to their opponents’ 69. MSU is hovering around 81 with opponents notching 67.
Shooting, UW is near 45% and the Spartans about 47%. Though Husky opponents are also hitting about 44% to Spartan matchups’ a shade under 40%. So we should see a difference in how the defense plays out between these two as well as a shade more offensive firepower for the Green. The Spartans are also getting to the line at a better clip with about 19 FT per game to Washington’s 15.
When we switch to conference only, MSU settles into the 5th spot with ~83 ppg and 3rd in FG% at 49% while Washington lands at 18th (of 18) in points, averaging just under 68 on 42% shooting. Assists-wise, the Spartans lead the league at 19.3 per game, with a team 1.38 A/T ratio good for 5th in the conference. The Huskies, again scrape near the bottom with 11.8 assists per game and a 0.94 ratio. So far the Huskies stars have needed to make the plays. If the Spartans can get their key guys out of rhythm and into foul trouble, the Husky offense may have some issues.
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A victory Thursday night continues the growth and opportunity for the Green to go on a pretty good run to start the new calendar year. After Washington, the Spartans have a road game at Northwestern on Sunday (looking at our Chicago people) before Penn State comes to town a week from today. Then, Illinois visits the Breslin Center on January 19. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Washington has some dawgs in this game. Let’s Bob Barker those puppies.
Go Green.