Handicapping Michigan State, Michigan in final stretch for Big Ten men's basketball title

Handicapping Michigan State, Michigan in final stretch for Big Ten men’s basketball title

Posted by author February 28, 2025 Basketball

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It seemed like the Big Ten basketball title race could take another turn on Wednesday night until Michigan State guard Tre Holloman took matters into his own hands.

The junior Spartan guard responded from a late turnover to hit the biggest shot of his life — a buzzer-beating 3 from beyond halfcourt — to lift MSU to a fourth straight win, 58-55, over No. 15 Maryland on the road. The shot strengthened Michigan State’s chances at winning the Big Ten regular-season championship, moving it to 14-3 in conference play with three games remaining.

And then Nimari Burnett matched Holloman’s feat with a game-winning buzzer beater of his own in Ann Arbor on Thursday.

Here’s a look at the Big Ten race with most teams having three games remaining in the 20-game conference schedule:

Big Ten contenders

Only three teams can win the Big Ten men’s basketball regular-season title for the 2024-25 season.

Michigan State is tied with Michigan after the Wolverines’ 84-82 win over Rutgers on Thursday night.

MSU won the first game between the in-state rivals a week ago in Ann Arbor, and the two meet again at the Breslin Center in the regular-season finale on March 9.

Wisconsin is alone in third place.

The top four seeds get a bye to the quarterfinals of the 15-team Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis on March 12-16.

Michigan State schedule

Michigan State and Michigan are two games ahead of Wisconsin in the standings. MSU and Wisconsin meet Sunday (1:30 p.m.) at Breslin Center in what will be the Spartans’ fourth straight game against a team in the top five of the Big Ten standings. MSU then plays Iowa (15-13, 6-11 Big Ten) on the road on Thursday and Michigan at home March 9.

Michigan schedule

Michigan (22-6, 14-3 Big Ten) has games remaining against Illinois (18-11, 10-8) at home on Sunday, Maryland (21-7, 11-6) at home on Wednesday and MSU on the road on March 9.

Wisconsin schedule

Wisconsin finishes its season with a trip to MSU, a trip to Minnesota (14-14, 6-11) and then hosts Penn State (15-14, 5-13) in its regular-season finale.

Maryland, Purdue and UCLA are tied for fourth in the conference standings at 11-6, meaning Michigan State and Michigan cannot do worse than finishing tied with those teams if they lose out.

Big Ten regular-season winner betting odds

Here is a look at the betting odds, courtesy of BetMGM, on who has the inside track to winning the Big Ten regular-season championship.

Michigan State, -210.
Michigan, +150.
Wisconsin, +3000

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Follow Jared on X or Bluesky, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.

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