UM fights for survival, MSU sets sights higher
Most experts see Tuesday night’s game as a must win for Tommy Amaker’s Michigan program. A loss may be the final nail in UM’s NCAA bid and many speculate that Amaker’s job may be on the line at the end of this season. Steve Grinczel of MLive.com reports that the game is big for Michigan State’s Tom Izzo but for other reasons.
“The stakes are high for us,” Izzo said. “First of all, it’s a rivalry game and there are a lot of people hanging around water coolers and coffeehouses that need us to win.
“Second of all, we want to continue to improve each game because there’s nothing like playing well at the end of the (season).”
In addition, seeding for the conference and national tourneys will be determined in the next two weeks.
“We’re at the point where we’d like to readjust (team goals) and see how good a team we can be, and maybe be able to make a run in the Big Ten Tournament or the NCAA Tournament,” Izzo said. “To do that, you have to play well on the road and continue to take steps forward.”