Michigan State will play Michigan at Crisler Arena one week from today, in the only scheduled meeting between the two teams this season. MSU has the better overall record, while UM is ahead in the conference standings. Both teams won games this week.
The Spartans took down Northwestern, hitting 16 three-point shots to win on the road, 76-45. The Wildcats fall to 15-7 with the loss.
The Wolverines beat Rutgers 68-57 in Ann Arbor. The Scarlet Knights are 6-15 overall, winless in the conference, having recently been outscored by more than 150 points in a five-game stretch.
Both squads have games remaining before the rivalry showdown, and we will compare the teams based on the current season as the game draws near. But for now, a quick "macro-look" at the historical record of this series.
Here is a snapshot comparison of the two programs, taken from Wikipedia:
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| Taken from this wikipedia web site. |
The data chart above shows that Michigan State is the better program overall, though Michigan has had it's fair share of outstanding players. The official game record shows UM leading MSU in the all-time series, 97-79, an 18-game lead for the Wolverines.
But like ALL of the "all-time series" records, this one counts more than 50 games played before 1950, when the East Lansing school was not called Michigan State UNIVERSITY, and prior to the Spartans entrance into the Big Ten. Michigan held a 39-17 lead in 1950, meaning that Michigan State has won more games in the last 65 years of the series.
Since 1950, MSU leads UM, 62-58.
Since 2000, MSU leads UM, 20-9.
So the Spartans lead the Wolverines in basketball since the invention of rocket-ships. Prior to rocket-ships (and "MSU"), UM had the lead.
A quick examination of the win/loss trend-line shows that Michigan State basically took over this series under the direction of Tom Izzo. Hence, the slogan: "In Izzo We Trust."
None of these factors will determine the outcome of the game next week. But that game will be rolled-into the overall series record between the two teams, and one game either way will not have a huge effect on the big picture of the rivalry. As usual, both teams need a win to advance towards their goals, so it's unlikely that ancient history will be high on the minds of players and coaches during the 40 minutes of action.
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Funny that you see that type of chart in the Mainstream Michigan Media Machine when heading into a football game, but it's not so prevalent prior to the basketball match-ups. Ummm. I wonder why.
ReplyDeleteHa, good point! Let's see if this information shows up in the M-4 anytime this week. They might not be able to choke out the words, "Michigan State is the better program overall". They will probably have to qualify the facts somehow in order to diminish the effects on their beloved Wolverines.
DeleteOk. Being a Rocket Scientist (seriously), I have to take exception to your post.
Delete1950
"So the Spartans lead the Wolverines in basketball since the invention of rocket-ships. Prior to rocket-ships (and "MSU"), UM had the lead."
Wrong date.
The first demonstration of rocket-like propulsion (steam) occured in 400 BC (give or take) by Archytas.
I the first century A.D., the Chinese had rocket propelled arrows (gun powder).
The first true rockets were used in 1232 by the Chinese in a war with the Mongols.
Let's not forget the "rockets' red glare" over Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812
Liquid fuel rockets were first proposed by Knostantin Tsiolkovsky in a report he published in 1903. Tsiolkovsky has been called the father of modern rocketry.
Robert H. Goddard successfully launched a liquid-propellant rocket on March 16, 1926. This marks the start of the modern Space Age.
Starting in 1937, Wernher von Braun started development of the V-2 rocket, which was a strategic weapon used by the Germans in World War II.
On October 4, 1957, the world was stunned by the first Earth-orbiting artificial Satellite, Sputnik I. Thus the Space Race began.
I happen to know as fact the chUMps did not field a team in 400 BC or even as late as the War of 1812.
chUMp U was not founded until 1817 (then called Catholepistemiad). The name was changed in 1821 to stop the laughter (literally). That first attempt failed and the school existed in name only until re-established in AA in 1837 using land originally intended for the state capital, which did not get put there. Hmmm...
Back to the point: not since the invention of rocket ships... more like since the first V2 launch from Cape Canaveral (July 24, 1950).
We are truly an EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE on this web site! We offer information of all kinds! Great summary.
DeleteYes, I was just grabbing a theoretical historical reference-point when I wrote that...I was actually planning to look up some discovery or invention that ties directly back to 1950, but I just threw out "rocket ships"...forgot that you would probably have a thing or two to say about that!
Glad I could contribute.
DeleteAs it turns out, that 1950 VS launch was the very first rocket launched from the Cape, so it works very well.
Funny how UM failed in its first attempt at being a college. Funny too how AA got the "plan B" what was then a subject of ridicule rather than the State Capital! Just a bit of historical trivia that clearly shows the "Leaders and the best" started out as losers.
That's something the M4 will never promulgate!
Oh, and to assist in your quest for a historical reference point...
DeleteOther 1950's trivia:
Al Jolson, George Orwell, and George Bernand Shaw all passed away.
Col. David C. Schilling makes the first nonstop transatlantic jet flight.
The first Xerox machine was built.
The first self-service elevatore was installed (in Dallas).
The first successful kidney transplant.
Ray Bradbury published The Martian Chronicles.
The McCarthyism era began.
Development of the H-bomb began.
The Korean War began.
CCNY defeated Bradley for the NCAA Basketball Chamionship.
Oklahoma was voted NCAA Football Champions.