Indiana University Athletics
Sunday, March 1
Bloomington, Ind.
3:45 PM
Indiana University
vs
Michigan State
‘Keep Fighting’ – IU Seeks Upset against Michigan State
3/1/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Big Ten reality is unforgiving. Play well and hard or else.
For the Indiana Hoosiers, reeling from a three-game losing streak, it's down to this: three games in seven days, starting Sunday against No. 13/13 Michigan State (23-5 overall, 13-4 in the Big Ten)
"The path forward is just keep fighting, keep pushing forward," coach Darian DeVries says.
The Hoosiers (17-11, 8-9) were in great shape after a pair of overtime victories over UCLA and Wisconsin, and then a dominant win over Oregon.
Losses at Illinois, at Purdue, and against Northwestern changed everything, adding must-win stakes to this final regular-season week that ends with Minnesota (13-15, 6-11) at home on Wednesday and at Ohio State (17-11, 9-8) on Saturday.
"We have to try to get these next ones," guard Lamar Wilkerson says. "Put our focus on that."
Second-half struggles have been costly (including Northwestern and then-unbeaten Nebraska), but don't have to be defining. A win over Michigan State, which is coming off a tough-minded 76-74 victory at Purdue, would go a long way to changing the narrative.
"There is no better opportunity than hosting a really good Michigan State team," forward Tucker DeVries says. "We've got to come prepared for that one a lot better (than against Northwestern), a lot more hooked up and take advantage of these opportunities. They're starting to get fewer."
Math remains in play -- win out and reach 20 victories with an 11-9 Big Ten record entering the conference tournament at Chicago's United Center.
"We're not out of the mix by any means," forward Tucker DeVries says.
IU has beaten Michigan State two straight times at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and in four of the last five games there.
In the first meeting this season in East Lansing, the Hoosiers were in a 53-53 tie until the Spartans broke it open with a 19-0 run to win 81-60.
Wilkerson continues to set the offensive tone. His 92 3-pointers rank second in school history to Steve Alford's 107 from the 1986-87 season. He leads IU with a 21.0 scoring average.
The Spartans, who are 5-3 on the road, won at Mackey Arena on Thursday night for the first time since 2014 despite being out-rebounded, in part because they committed just six turnovers while shooting 52.7% from the field.
Carson Cooper, a 6-foot-11 senior center, has 35 points and 17 rebounds in his last two games. He averages 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Guard Jeremy Fears Jr. leads Michigan State in scoring (14.9 points) and assists (255 against just 59 turnovers). He also has a team-leading 36 steals. Forward Jaxon Kohler averages 12.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. Forward Coen Carr averages 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Michigan State out-rebounds opponents 40.6 to 28.4.
Coach Tom Izzo has 760 career victories.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Big Ten reality is unforgiving. Play well and hard or else.
For the Indiana Hoosiers, reeling from a three-game losing streak, it's down to this: three games in seven days, starting Sunday against No. 13/13 Michigan State (23-5 overall, 13-4 in the Big Ten)
"The path forward is just keep fighting, keep pushing forward," coach Darian DeVries says.
The Hoosiers (17-11, 8-9) were in great shape after a pair of overtime victories over UCLA and Wisconsin, and then a dominant win over Oregon.
Losses at Illinois, at Purdue, and against Northwestern changed everything, adding must-win stakes to this final regular-season week that ends with Minnesota (13-15, 6-11) at home on Wednesday and at Ohio State (17-11, 9-8) on Saturday.
"We have to try to get these next ones," guard Lamar Wilkerson says. "Put our focus on that."
Second-half struggles have been costly (including Northwestern and then-unbeaten Nebraska), but don't have to be defining. A win over Michigan State, which is coming off a tough-minded 76-74 victory at Purdue, would go a long way to changing the narrative.
"There is no better opportunity than hosting a really good Michigan State team," forward Tucker DeVries says. "We've got to come prepared for that one a lot better (than against Northwestern), a lot more hooked up and take advantage of these opportunities. They're starting to get fewer."
Math remains in play -- win out and reach 20 victories with an 11-9 Big Ten record entering the conference tournament at Chicago's United Center.
"We're not out of the mix by any means," forward Tucker DeVries says.
IU has beaten Michigan State two straight times at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and in four of the last five games there.
In the first meeting this season in East Lansing, the Hoosiers were in a 53-53 tie until the Spartans broke it open with a 19-0 run to win 81-60.
Wilkerson continues to set the offensive tone. His 92 3-pointers rank second in school history to Steve Alford's 107 from the 1986-87 season. He leads IU with a 21.0 scoring average.
The Spartans, who are 5-3 on the road, won at Mackey Arena on Thursday night for the first time since 2014 despite being out-rebounded, in part because they committed just six turnovers while shooting 52.7% from the field.
Carson Cooper, a 6-foot-11 senior center, has 35 points and 17 rebounds in his last two games. He averages 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Guard Jeremy Fears Jr. leads Michigan State in scoring (14.9 points) and assists (255 against just 59 turnovers). He also has a team-leading 36 steals. Forward Jaxon Kohler averages 12.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. Forward Coen Carr averages 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Michigan State out-rebounds opponents 40.6 to 28.4.
Coach Tom Izzo has 760 career victories.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballIUWBB Highlights vs. Penn State
Saturday, February 28
IUWBB Postgame Press Conference at Rutgers
Thursday, February 26
IUWBB Highlights at Rutgers
Thursday, February 26
MBB: Postgame Press Conference - Northwestern (2/24/26)
Tuesday, February 24