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Posted on Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 8:02 a.m.

Big Ten-leading Michigan State basketball team visits Michigan tonight

By AnnArbor.com Staff

CHRIS-ALLEN.jpg

Michigan State's Chris Allen, left, reaches in to steal the ball against Iowa's Cully Payne on Jan. 20. Allen's defense is one reason Michigan State is unbeaten in the Big Ten, MSU coach Tom Izzo said. (Photo: Associated Press)

Everything appears to be going right for the Michigan State basketball team. The Spartans, unbeaten in the Big Ten, ranked fifth in the nation and now with a tougher-looking logo visit Crisler Arena to take on Michigan on Tuesday

And Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says the Spartans (17-3, 7-0 Big Ten) are playing better defense against 3-point shooters, according to The Grand Rapids Press. The key, Izzo said, is that Kalin Lucas is adjusting better to the shots and Chris Allen has improved his defense.

“Why the defensive part of it?” Izzo said of Allen. “I think he figured it out that ‘If I want to play basketball beyond here, if I want to be a great player here, you’ve got to be able to play both ends of the court.’

“I don’t know where the light bulb went on, but it’s on, and it’s my job to keep it on.”

We have more links about today's 7 p.m. game (ESPN) ahead.

• AnnArbor.com's Pete Bigelow says a big rivalry game shouldn't be overlooked in the wake of Manny Harris' one-game suspension.

• Harris, suspended after an incident in practice, apologizes in a statement, AnnArbor.com reports.

• Michigan has searched all season for on-court leaders, AnnArbor.com reports.

• A question-and-answer session with Michigan State's Kalin Lucas from Yahoo Sports.

• Michigan's DeShawn Sims needs to lead and be aggressive, Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg says.

• Michigan's Manny Harris needs to be the man, Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski says.

• Somebody, anybody needs to lead Michigan, ESPN's Andy Katz writes.

• Already thinking about March Madness? The Spartans are headed for a No. 2 seed, The Free Press says.

• Tom Izzo loves the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, The Detroit News reports.

Comments

hurd06

Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.

Michigan fans, we need your votes in this poll http://isportsweb.com/2010/01/25/michigan-manny-and-a-maize-out-ready-for-spartans/ Sparty is crushing it right now