re: Tide Hoops | 31-6 (16-2)

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here's the @CrimsonXover Michigan State deep dive thread to get you ready for tonight's game:

Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo have been a staple of college basketball this millennium, always finding themselves in the tournament picture. (1/9)

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The Spartans have had one of the toughest schedules in the country this season, having already played Gonzaga, Kentucky and Villanova in their first four games. Their 3-1 record in those first four games is impressive, with a 1-point loss to the Zags their only blemish (2/9)

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The Spartans are led by a backcourt of Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard. Hoggard is 2nd in CBB in assist rate, while Walker is more of a dynamic scorer (13.5 PPG). These two provide very different looks compared to each other and will be the first test for Alabama's backcourt D (3/9)

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The front court starting group for the Spartans will be different from their previous games, given the recent news of Malik Hall's foot injury that will have him out for "weeks", per sources. Hall was expected to be the primary defender for Brandon Miller in this game (4/9)

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Joey Hauser and Mady Sissoko will be two of the starting front court members, with the third spot likely being taken by 6'6" sophomore Pierre Brooks. Hauser and Brooks are dead-eye shooters (50% and 40% from 3 this year, respectively) while Sissoko is an interior threat (5/9)

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Key reserve Jaden Akins is considered doubtful in this game (foot), leaving a paper-thin MSU bench even thinner. 6-9 Jaxon Kohler and 6-2 Trejuan Holliman are the only healthy MSU players that have played legit minutes this year, with 6-11 Carson Cooper being another option (6/9)

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MSU will be yet another Alabama opponent that tries to run some half court sets to get shooters like Hauser and Walker open (290th in pace, 76th in 3P%). Sissoko will be another offensive option down low that gets to the free throw constantly (he's 7th in FT Rate) (7/9)

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The Spartans will also play stout defense around the perimeter (37th in 3P% Defense) while having the length to compete with Alabama on the boards. The loss of Hall and Akins will hurt them, but given their experiences in big games, the Spartans will be a tough out tonight (8/9)

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I was fully prepared to predict a close MSU win tonight, but the injury news to Hall makes a huge difference to a Spartans team that already left three scholarships open this offseason. Give me Alabama to cover the spread.

Prediction: Alabama 77, Michigan State 71
(9/9)

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Forgive the thanksgiving brain fart — Akins obviously isn’t a starter. Should have said, if he is also out, Michigan State will be without two of its top six.

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Who schedules a top 20 matchup at 9:30?

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As Musselman was pulled away by his staff, he flashed an “L” with his fingers on his forehead – the sign for loser – and, according to multiple witnesses, screamed, “Go (expletive) yourself.” He also appeared to have an exchange with SDSU guard Matt Bradley, who knocked over a chair in anger. Soon, fans – including at least one parent of an SDSU player – spilled out of the stands onto the court and moved toward the Arkansas coaches as security ushered them to their locker room.

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