#3 Michigan State @ #12 Seton Hall

Who will WIN this matchup?

#3 Michigan State Spartans (1-1)

@ #12 Seton Hall Pirates (2-0)

Current odds:

#3 Michigan State Spartans: (-270)

#12 Seton Hall Pirates: (+220)

• The  line for this game is Michigan State by 6 points.

• The Gavitt Tipoff Games wraps up a week-long schedule with a marquee matchup on Thursday when No. 1 Michigan State travels to face No. 13 Seton Hall. The Spartans rebounded from their season-opening loss to Kentucky with an easy win over Binghamton Sunday, while the Pirates have had two easy victories, over Wagner and Stony Brook. The Spartans’ season took a sorrowful turn over the weekend, when the younger brother of senior guard Cassius Winston died, though Winston played the very next day and was outstanding against Binghamton, finishing with 17 points, 11 assists and just one turnover. Junior forward Xavier Tillman rebounded from a disappointing opener with 17 points and eight boards against Binghamton, as he is the Spartans’ best low-post threat.

• Seton Hall’s season hasn’t been all good news either, with senior guard Myles Powell (13.5 points) suffering a severe ankle injury early in the Pirates’ last game, keeping him from playing in this one. Junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili is now leading Seton Hall with 14 points a game, while senior guard Quincy McKnight is averaging 12 points and 5 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from 3-point range.

• Lost in the focus on Winston after his brother’s death — and rightfully so — was the game sophomore Aaron Henry had against Binghamton, with 16 points, three blocks and four steals. Henry, who is expected to take a big step forward to be another big scorer for the Spartans this season, struggled with foul trouble in the opening loss to Kentucky, finishing with nine points in just 23 minutes of action. But Henry showed his whole game against Binghamton, going 2-for-2 from 3-point range and helping to hold the Bearcats’ best scorer, Sam Sessoms, to just 5-of-17 shooting from the floor.

• With Powell out for the near future, Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard will need to find production from other players until Powell can return. Junior guard Shavar Reynolds is the top candidate after he had nine points, four assists and three rebounds against Stony Brook when Powell went down. Mamukelashvili and McKnight will also need to continue to take over the go-to scorer’s role to help replace Powell’s 20-plus points per game.

• Winston is scheduled to travel with the team and play in this game, though coach Tom Izzo has given his All-American the option to back out of playing at any time.

• Seton Hall has been able to win the turnover battle against its first two opponents, committing just 19 while forcing 36.

• Michigan State led the nation in assists last season, recording assists on 66.8 percent of its field goals. This season, the Spartans have assisted on 65 percent of their baskets through two games.