Big Ten announces date for postponed Michigan-Michigan State contest

Michigan, looking to exact revenge on its in-state rival Michigan State, may not have gotten the opportunity after a Jan. 8 postponement.

No. 13 Michigan State got the best of the Michigan Wolverines at home on Jan. 29, as the Spartans cruised to an 83-67 victory — but that was supposed to be the second of two matchups between the rivals. Michigan was set to host Michigan State on Jan. 8, until the game was called off due to COVID-19 complications. For quire some time, the question was not whether Michigan was capable of turning it around and beating the Spartans; rather, it was a matter of whether the game would be played at all.

On Monday, the Big Ten answered that question, by officially announcing the date of the rematch: March 1 at 8:30 p.m. The game will still be played in Michigan’s Crisler Center, as the Wolverines will now play host to the visiting Spartans.

Michigan has had a disappointing 2021-22 campaign so far, but after consecutive losses at UCF, Rutgers and Illinois, the Wolverines rebounded to the tune of three-consecutive wins. That win streak, of course, was snapped by the loss at Michigan State. But now the Wolverines (10-8, 6-2) will get a second chance at Tom Izzo’s squad, which is looking like a strong contender in a top-heavy Big Ten conference.

Hunter Dickinson puts season in perspective after Michigan State loss

Michigan center Hunter Dickinson was fed up following his team’s 83-67 loss to rival Michigan State on Saturday. In his postgame interview, Dickinson put the Wolverines’ season in perspective.

“Every game from here on out is a must-win for us,” the center said.

Michigan entered the year ranked No. 6 in the AP poll and with hopes of playing for a national championship. Now it is fighting just to make the NCAA Tournament, sitting at 10-8 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines were among the first four team out of ESPN’s bracketology picks prior to this weekend.

Dickinson certainly hasn’t been the reason for the struggles, as he leads the team in both scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.4 rpg). He continued to excel Saturday, leading all scorers with 25 points and adding six rebounds.

The Wolverines played the Spartans tight in the first half, and entered halftime down just 39-35. That lead would grow to double digits before five minutes had passed in the second half as Michigan simply couldn’t catch up.

Michigan has yet to beat a ranked opponent this season, but will have plenty of chances in the final month of the season. As Dickinson said, this last stretch is critical as ever after the slow start to the year. If the Wolverines fail to receiver a bid to the NCAA Tournament, it would mark just the second time in the past 12 seasons.

Although Michigan faces a tough schedule to close the season, it will get a bit of a break in its upcoming game against Nebraska. The Huskers sit at 6-15 thus far this year and are the only team in the Big Ten without a conference win. Hunter Dickinson and the rest of the Wolverines will hope to move on from the Michigan State loss when that game tips off at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.