Get to know UCLA's next opponent, Michigan State

UCLA hosts Michigan State on Tuesday night as the Bruins look to continue their win streak and defeat the first-place Spartans.

UCLA vs. Michigan State by Gregory Shamus/GettyImages
UCLA vs. Michigan State by Gregory Shamus/GettyImages | Gregory Shamus/GettyImages
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Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
From left, Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler (0), guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1), forward Frankie Fidler (8), guard Jaden Akins (3) and center Szymon Zapala. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Get to know more about the Spartans before UCLA hosts them on Tuesday night.

Social media accounts like the Field of 68 and Ant Wright seem to have pointed out that Michigan State’s Big Ten schedule up to this point has not been as challenging as other conference teams this season. The debate and the discussion on the Spartans not being ranked higher on rankings such as the NET rankings may make it seem that UCLA will be the favorite to win at home on Tuesday.

To the point that Michigan State has not played a difficult schedule is misleading, however. No one is arguing that the Spartans have played the toughest schedule in the Big Ten up to this point or that they were challenged more often than not in non-conference play but those trying to say that they will begin losing game after game in February are not accurate.

Michigan State has won all four road games that they have played this season in Big Ten play. They won at Minnesota and both Michigan and Oregon lost playing against the Gophers on the road this season. Then they went on the road and defeated Ohio State and the Buckeyes went on the road and beat Purdue and Michigan State went on the road and beat Northwestern, something that Illinois failed to accomplish. These are just a few reasons why UCLA should not overlook this Spartans team when they play each other.

In their home victories this season, they have won games by 20 or more points as they defeated Nebraska by 37, Washington by 34, and Minnesota by 22. They also defeated Illinois at home, in which some members of the media went on social media to discredit the Spartans victory against Illinois. Even before the conference play, Michigan State in the Maui Invitational defeated both Colorado and North Carolina and the Spartans’ only losses this season came on neutral courts against Kansas and Memphis. Even against mid-major opponents, Michigan State defeated Samford, who is currently 17-5 and in first place in their conference and also beat Florida Atlantic by 17.

The Spartans have won six games this season by only single digits. They also do not have as many 25 or more-point victories in comparison to other teams ranked ahead of them in the NET rankings. However, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has consistently demonstrated that he rarely attempts to increase the score against Big Ten opponents. UCLA fans who are analyzing and looking at every game Michigan State has played should know that information before Tuesday's game.

Schedule

Schedule