No. 13 Michigan State Visits Indiana in Key Big Ten Matchup

Spartans look to avenge earlier loss to Hoosiers as both teams fight for NCAA Tournament positioning

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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No. 13 Michigan State travels to Bloomington to take on Indiana in a crucial Big Ten matchup on Sunday. The Spartans, led by star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., are looking to avenge an earlier 81-60 loss to the Hoosiers in January. Indiana, meanwhile, is fighting to improve its NCAA Tournament resume after a disappointing home loss to Northwestern earlier this week.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for both teams' postseason hopes. Michigan State is currently tied for second in the Big Ten standings and looking to solidify its position as an NCAA Tournament team. Indiana, on the other hand, is on the bubble and needs a signature win like this to boost its tournament chances with Selection Sunday just two weeks away.

The details

Michigan State is coming off a big road win over No. 8 Purdue, while Indiana is reeling from its home loss to Northwestern. The Hoosiers will need big games from leading scorers Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries to pull off the upset against the talented Spartans. Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. had 23 points in the teams' first meeting, and the Spartans will look to him to lead the way again.

  • Indiana lost 93-64 at No. 7 Purdue on Feb. 20.
  • Indiana then lost 72-68 at home against Northwestern on Tuesday.
  • Michigan State defeated Ohio State 66-60 at home on Feb. 22.
  • Michigan State then won 76-74 at No. 8 Purdue on Thursday.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Michigan State's star point guard and a Big Ten player of the year contender, who scored 23 points in the Spartans' 81-60 win over Indiana in January.

Lamar Wilkerson

Indiana's leading scorer, averaging 21.0 points per game, who will need to have a big game for the Hoosiers to pull off the upset.

Tom Izzo

The Hall of Fame head coach of Michigan State, who has led the Spartans to 11 Big Ten titles, six Big Ten Tournament titles, and one national championship in his 31 seasons.

Darian DeVries

In his first season as Indiana's head coach, DeVries is looking to lead the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a very good Michigan State team. They've proven they can win on the road, and we'll need to bring our best effort to have a chance.”

— Darian DeVries, Indiana Head Coach

“This is a big game for us as we look to solidify our NCAA Tournament position. We know Indiana will be hungry for revenge, so we'll need to match their intensity and execute our game plan.”

— Tom Izzo, Michigan State Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing an NCAA Tournament bid, while the loser will have work to do in the final two weeks of the regular season.

The takeaway

This matchup between two Big Ten powers has major postseason implications, as both teams look to boost their NCAA Tournament resumes in the final stretch of the regular season. The outcome could play a significant role in determining which teams make the field of 68 when Selection Sunday arrives.