Game Information
Who: No. 9 Michigan State Spartans vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Where: Little Caesars Arena — Detroit, MI
When: Saturday, December 20 | 12:00 PM ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: FuboTV
Announcers: Jason Ross Jr. and Bruce Weber
Saturday, in the park, I think it was the Fourth of July. Except it’s the complete opposite of the Chicago hit song. Instead of barbeque, swimming, and fireworks, we sit deep in the midst of Candy Cane Lane, Mariah Carey vocals, and prime-time college basketball.
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And this Saturday, we get a high-noon matchup between No. 9 Michigan State and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
This will be the eighth game the Spartans have played at Little Caesars Arena, where they hold a 6–1 record. Michigan State and Oakland have faced off 23 times, with the Spartans winning all 23 matchups. Remarkably, every one of those games has been Tom Izzo vs. Greg Kampe, which is quite an amazing stat in itself.
The Ugly Christmas Sweater Tradition
Back in 2022, Oakland head coach Greg Kampe challenged Michigan State’s Tom Izzo on social media to wear an ugly Christmas sweater during the Golden Grizzlies’ visit to East Lansing.
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What started as a joke has turned into one of college basketball’s most endearing traditions.
The ugly Christmas sweater game is already upon us, and on Saturday we’ll get to see just what holiday masterpiece Tom Izzo dons on the sideline. For the first time, Izzo — with an assist from Lupe — has picked out the sweaters himself.
“We’ve gone from me begging him,” Kampe said, “to him texting me saying, ‘I’ve got the sweaters.’”
Izzo, never one to hide his feelings, added: “I feel like an idiot half the time… now it has become a tradition.”
He continued, poking fun at Kampe: “He’s always bought the sweater and complained about it because he says he doesn’t make enough money.”
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Izzo also revealed how this year’s sweaters came together: “My neighbor at my beach house worked for me at one time. She’s from Chicago and she has a company, so she asked if she could put together a couple sweaters — so Kampe will get his tomorrow night.”
What was once reluctantly done by Izzo has now become something he’s fully embraced. It’s a fun tradition in a rivalry that’s become just as fun. Michigan State is clearly the superior program historically, but what Greg Kampe has built at Oakland is nothing short of immaculate.
That these two teams continue to play each other yearly is outstanding. That it also delivers an annual Christmas sweater showdown for the world to see? That’s picture-perfect basketball entertainment.
Michigan State Preview
Michigan State enters the game 10–1 overall (2–0 Big Ten), ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll, No. 10 in the NET, and No. 11 in KenPom.
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Following the Toledo game, Tom Izzo even shared his thoughts on KenPom rankings — ripping into them enough to make anyone who believes in KenPom feel a certain way.
On the court, Michigan State is led by Jeremy Fears Jr., who is leading the country with 9.5 assists per game (105 total). Alongside him is Jaxon Kohler, who ranks second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally with 10.1 rebounds per game.
Kohler also leads the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game, already recording six double-doubles in 11 games.
Through those 11 games:
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Four Spartans are averaging double figures
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Eight are averaging at least 5.0 PPG
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Nine are playing 13+ minutes per game
Michigan State ranks:
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No. 2 nationally in rebound margin (+13.6)
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No. 13 in assists per game (19.4)
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No. 12 in scoring defense (62.7 PPG)
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No. 5 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency (KenPom)
Oakland Preview
Oakland enters the matchup at 6–6 overall (2–0 Horizon).
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The Golden Grizzlies have won four of their last five games, including an 82–77 road win at Northern Kentucky on Wednesday night.
Oakland opened the season with losses at Michigan (121–78), Purdue (87–77), and Houston (78–45) — meaning this team has already been tested against Quad 1 opponents. As the fourth ranked opponent they’ll face this season, the game has likely slowed down for the Golden Grizzlies, which could make this matchup more competitive than many expect.
Senior forward Tuburu Naivalurua, named the league’s preseason player of the year by Blue Ribbon, is averaging 12.8 PPG and 5.7 RPG.
Oakland also added 10 transfers in the offseason, including senior guard Brody Robinson, who leads the team with 16.3 PPG and is shooting 37.1% from three (23-of-62).
Prediction
If the Breslin Center could somehow play “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” as Tom Izzo’s walk-in song like he’s in the WWE, I’d predict Michigan State to win by a million.
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I don’t see that happening — but I am ecstatic to see what Izzo and Kampe wear on the sideline.
This game means a little more these days. Not only does it give us a quality matchup, but it officially signals Christmas week. Every Michigan State–Oakland game since the 2014–15 season has tipped off within eight days of Christmas.
With carols and Christmas movies filling every waking second of your life, this remains a perfect two-hour escape — a friendly, festive matchup between familiar foes.
Final Score Prediction:
Michigan State 81
Oakland 69
