WHO: No. 9 Michigan State (11–1, 2–0 Big Ten) vs. Cornell (6–5)
WHEN: Monday, December 29th, 7:00 PM EST
WHERE: Jack Breslin Student Events Center, East Lansing, MI
WATCH: Fox Sports One
STREAM: FuboTV
After a nice long week filled with rest and relaxation, eggnog, caroling, and plenty of yuletide fun, Michigan State basketball returns to action to close out the 2025 calendar year with a home matchup against Cornell.
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The Spartans have been remarkably steady throughout the month of December, sitting at No. 9 in the AP Poll and third in the Big Ten for most of the season. Michigan State’s lone blemish on the year came back in a 66–60 loss to Duke, a game that was far more competitive than the final score indicated. Since then, Tom Izzo’s group has rattled off wins over Penn State, Toledo, and most recently Oakland in what can only be described as an ugly sweater showdown for the ages.
That Oakland win marked Michigan State’s 24th straight victory against Greg Kampe’s Golden Grizzlies, continuing a perfect all-time record in the series. While the nine-point win was never truly in doubt, it was closer than many fans expected—and closer than the Spartans would likely prefer heading into conference play.
Now, Michigan State turns its attention to Cornell in what serves as the final non-conference tune-up before the real grind begins. After this game, the Spartans face 18 straight Big Ten matchups, a relentless gauntlet that ultimately leads to the Big Ten Tournament and, hopefully, a deep March run.
If Michigan State hopes to “hold serve” through that stretch, games like this need to function as tune-ups, not stress tests. And while some fans were quick to point out that “Michigan beat Oakland by 50,” that comparison showed more ignorance about college basketball than insight. Oakland was always going to play Michigan State tough. Still, even acknowledging that reality, there were some glaring weaknesses that showed up and must be addressed sooner rather than later.
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The biggest concern remains ball security. Turnovers have plagued this team far too often, even against teams like Toledo and Oakland. If Michigan State cannot take better care of the ball, elite Big Ten opponents like Michigan and Purdue will exploit that weakness immediately—and mercilessly.
Another growing concern is three-point shooting. After a hot start to the season, Michigan State’s perimeter offense has cooled off significantly. Following the Quad 1 win over Arkansas—where the Spartans made just one three-pointer—the team seemed to find its rhythm from deep, raining threes against North Carolina, Kentucky, and others. However, over the last five games, starting with the Duke loss, that efficiency has fallen off a cliff.
Currently, Michigan State ranks 100th nationally in three-point percentage at 35.7% and an alarming 253rd in made threes per game, averaging just 7.3. That’s not a formula for sustained success in March.
As a result, the Spartans have leaned heavily on their frontcourt. Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper, and Coen Carr have carried the load with relentless rebounding and consistent scoring in the paint. History shows that teams overly reliant on the three tend to flame out when shots stop falling, while gritty, physical teams often survive longer in the NCAA Tournament. Still, postseason success requires balance—and Michigan State will need to knock down open threes to keep pace with high-powered offenses that can score 90-plus on any given night.
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That means players like Kur Teng, Trey Fort, and Divine Ugochukwu must step up, as they’ve all shown they can, but with greater consistency.
This matchup against Cornell provides the perfect opportunity to clean things up, build confidence, and sharpen execution before the Big Ten gauntlet officially begins.
Prediction
Michigan State: 80
Cornell: 65
