GAME NOTES: Intrastate foes meet up in Big Ten play this afternoon, as the Michigan Wolverines make the short trip to East Lansing to take on the 10th- ranked Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center. John Beilein's team has struggled in his first year at the helm, having won just five games overall, and once in six Big Ten tilts thus far. It has really been bad since mid- December, with Michigan losing eight of its last nine games, including three in a row entering this weekend. The Wolverines almost pulled off an upset of 11th- ranked Wisconsin last week, but fell by three points (64-61) in Madison. MSU will be the seventh top-25 team that Michigan has faced this season and the Spartans have certainly earned their lofty standing. Tom Izzo's squad is 5-1 in league play thus far and has won three straight games and 14 of its last 15 overall. On Thursday, the Spartans made light work of Northwestern, 78-62. This game will be the only regular season meeting between these two rivals. Michigan owns a 91-70 advantage in the all-time series, but the Spartans have won nine straight matchups at the Breslin Center.

A lack of offensive punch has been one of the real problems for Michigan this season. The Wolverines have scored more than 67 points just once since December 15th and that was a 78-point outburst in the team's only win during that span at Northwestern on January 12th. The numbers on the year are nothing to brag about as a result, with Michigan averaging 65.2 ppg, while allowing 70.9. The only real offensive threats are Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims. Harris is converting just under 40 percent from the floor, but still leads the team with a respectable 16.4 ppg. Sims adds 13.6 ppg on a slightly better .437 shooting clip. The problem comes after these two. While Ekpe Udoh is the Big Ten's top shot-blocker (55), he is tied with Ron Coleman for third on Michigan's scoring list at a mere 5.9 ppg. Harris did all he could in trying to lead his team to the upset of Wisconsin, as he hit 11-of-19 shots and poured in a game-high 26 points. Udoh and Sims added 10 points apiece, but the rest of the team combined for a mere 15 points.

The Spartans shot the ball extremely well from beyond the arc, nailing a season-high 11 three-pointers in a 16-point romp over the Wildcats. Raymar Morgan delivered on 9-of-11 shots from the floor to tally a game-high 23 points, but it was Drew Neitzel's work from long range that stole the show. Neitzel was 6-of-10 from behind the arc, pouring in 20 points in the process. Freshman Chris Allen came off the bench to add 17 points, joining Neitzel and Morgan (60 combined pts) to almost outscore the entire Northwestern roster (62 pts). The Spartans preach defense first and that has been a formula for success this season. The team is holding opponents under 40 percent shooting (.392) and a mere 62.7 ppg. In addition, MSU is outrebounding foes by almost 10 boards per game (9.6). Morgan paces the team in field-goal percentage (.571) and scoring (16.8 ppg) and ranks second in rebounding (6.8 rpg). Neitzel is the outside threat, adding 13.8 ppg, while leading the way from long range (.436, 51- of-117). Kalin Lucas (9.5 ppg) and Goran Suton (8.8 ppg) provide limited offensive help, although the 6-10 Suton is a beast on the glass (team-high 8.5 rpg).

The Wolverines' woes will likely continue in East Lansing. Yes, this is a rivalry game, but Michigan doesn't have the personnel required to get the job done at the Breslin Center.