Michigan State vs. Indiana tipoff: Matchup analysis, prediction

•What: Michigan State vs. Indiana

•When: 7 p.m. Friday

•Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing

•TV/Radio: FS1/Spartan Sports Network, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM

•Records/Rankings: MSU is 16-3 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten and ranked No. 9 in both major polls; Indiana is 11-7 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten and unranked.

•Coaches: MSU — Tom Izzo is 559-223 in his 23rd season, all with the Spartans. Indiana — Archie Miller is 150-70 in his seventh season as a head coach. This is his first season with the Hoosiers after six at Dayton.

•Series: Indiana leads 68-53 all-time. The Hoosiers won the only meeting last year, in Bloomington. MSU had won the previous five matchups.

Indiana

MSU

•Indiana update: This Indiana basketball season is mostly known for two embarrassing and lopsided home losses — to Indiana State and Fort Wayne. The Hoosiers are worth a second look. Indiana is suddenly 4-2 in Big Ten play (same as MSU) after three straight wins, coming at Minnesota, against Penn State and then 66-46 at home Sunday over Northwestern. Indiana is still a long shot to earn an NCAA tournament bid, given its non-conference resume and the schedule ahead, but Friday night’s game is the sort of opportunity that could change that. Indiana’s problem most of the year has been that it can’t shoot (.307 from 3-point range) or defend shooters (.379 3-point shooting defense). The Hoosiers’ desire to play defense has also been in question. That wasn’t an issue against Northwestern, which Indiana held to 27 percent from the floor.

•MSU update: The Spartans are facing their first real adversity of the season. After overwhelming much of their nonconference slate and putting up dominating numbers on both ends of the floor, they’ve looked vulnerable and out of sorts in three straight games, two of them losses. Making this stretch seem worse is the contrast with the stretch before it. In MSU’s last three games, the Spartans are shooting 44.5 percent and scoring 70.6 points per game. Compare that with the five previous games — MSU shot a combined 62 percent, averaged 103.8 points and won by at least 30 points every time out and by 50 or more points three times. It was all coming so easy for the Spartans. Then, thud.

MORE MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL:

• Couch: Cassius Winston's Michigan-loss misery is the key to Michigan State's next step
• MSU recruit Marcus Bingham Jr. 'came from bottom' to become state's No. 1 prospect
• How Michigan State plans to get rolling in transition vs. Indiana
• Tom Izzo puts onus on himself to impart 'sense of urgency'

•About the matchup: Indiana starts three players from the lineup that blitzed the Spartans in Bloomington last year — power forward Juwan Morgan, shooting guard Robert Johnson and point guard Josh Newkirk. Morgan is a much bigger force than a year ago and Johnson is still a dangerous scorer. But otherwise, there isn’t a ton of firepower on this roster. Less so after 6-10 forward De’Ron Davis suffered a torn Achilles earlier this month. The bigger question is whether Indiana can defend the Spartans — and whether the Spartans’ offensive funk will help Indiana do so. Beyond Morgan, the Hoosiers don’t appear to have the athletes on the interior to deal with Nick Ward, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges. This should be a game in which MSU can impose its will and get what it wants.

•Prediction: Indiana is feeling better about itself. MSU is struggling. But with six days between games — plenty of time be depressed, get over it and get refocused — I expect MSU to be ornery and dialed in. The Spartans are by far the more talented squad and due for a feel-good home game.

» Make it: MSU 83, Indiana 68

— Graham Couch