A Closer Look At The Michigan State Spartans

On Tuesday night, No. 7 ranked Kansas will face a nationally ranked Michigan State squad that is looking for its first victory of the season.

Michigan State: The Facts

Located in East Lansing, Mich., with an enrollment of 48,800, No. 14/14 Michigan State lost to Connecticut in its season opener 66-62 in the Armed Forces Classic played at Ramstein Air Base, Germany - Hangar 5 Nov. 9. The Spartans trailed by as much as 16 points in the first half yet rallied to take a second-half lead but could not hold on.

Junior guard Keith Appling is Michigan State's leading returning scorer at 11.4 points per game last season. He had a team-high 17 points against UConn in the opener. Sophomore guard Branden Dawson, who averaged 8.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, had a double-double versus Connecticut with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman guard Gary Harris also reached double figures against UConn with 11 points, while senior center Derrick Nix (six points, 11 rebounds) and Adreian Payne (six points) rounded out MSU's starters. Freshman guard Denzel Valentine (four points) and sophomore guard Travis Trice (three points) also saw significant minutes in the season opener.

Michigan State is coached by Tom Izzo who is 412-170 in his 18th season as a head coach, all at MSU. During Tom Izzo's tenure, the Spartans have won seven Big Ten regular-season titles and three tournament crowns.

Kansas vs. Michigan State: The Series

Michigan State leads Kansas 5-4 in the series that dates back to 1960. The teams last met twice during the 2008-09 season with the Spartans claiming both matchups - 75-62 on Jan. 10, 2009 in East Lansing and 67-62 in a come-from-behind effort in the 2009 NCAA Midwest Regional Sweet 16 in Indianapolis. Michigan State went on to defeat Louisville and advance to the Final Four.

Before the two 2009 battles, the last meeting had then-No. 6 Kansas defeating then-No. 3 Michigan State 81-74 on Nov. 25, 2003, in Allen Fieldhouse in Bill Self's first season at KU. Some of the more memorable games include KU's 96-86 overtime win against Michigan State in the 1986 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Sweet 16 game in Kansas City.

KU then defeated North Carolina State to advance to the Final Four in Dallas. In the next meeting, Michigan State defeated Kansas 66-54 in the Great Eight in Chicago, Ill., on Dec. 7, 1999.

A closer look at the Michigan State Spartans

#0 Russell Byrd: 6-foot-7, 205-pound guard

#2 Alex Gauna: 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward

#3 Brandan Kearney: 6-foot-5, 195-pound guard

#5 Adreian Payne: 6-foot-10,240-pound center

#10 Matt Costello: 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward

#11 Keith Appling: 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard

#14 Gary Harris: 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard

#15 Keenan Wetzel: 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard

#20 Travis Trice: 6-foot-0, 170-pound guard

#22 Branden Dawson: 6-foot-6, 230-pound guard

#25 Derrick Nix: 6-foot-9, 270-pound center

#30 Kenny Kaminski: 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward

#40 Dan Chapman: 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard

#41 Colby Wollenman: 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward

#45 Denzel Valentine: 6-foot-5, 220-pound guard

Record: 0-1

Home Record: 0-0

Away Record: 0-0

Neutral Record: 0-1

Big Ten Conference Record: 0-0

National Ranking: 14

Wins: None

Losses: Connecticut (Germany)

Upcoming games: Kansas (Atlanta), Texas Southern, Boise State, Oakland, Louisiana-Lafayette, @ Miami-FL, Nicholls State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Loyola Chicago, Tuskegee, @ Bowling Green, Texas, @ Minnesota, Purdue, @ Iowa, Nebraska, @ Penn State, Ohio State, @ Wisconsin, @ Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, @ Purdue, Michigan, @ Nebraska, Indiana, @ Ohio State,

Scoring Leaders:

Keith Appling: 17.0

Branden Dawson: 15.0

Gary Harris: 11.0

Derrick Nix: 6.0

Adreian Payne: 6.0

Rebounding Leaders:

Derrick Nix: 11.0

Branden Dawson: 10.0

Denzel Valentine: 8.0

Assist Leaders:

Keith Appling: 4.0

Field Goal Shooting Percentage Leaders:

Keith Appling: 7-of-17 (41.2%)

Branden Dawson: 7-of-17 (41.2%)

Gary Harris: 4-of-13 (30.8%)

3 point Field Goal Shooting Percentage Leaders

Keith Appling: 2-of-5 (40%)

Gary Harris: 1-of-7 (14.3%)

Free-throw Percentage Leaders:

Gary Harris: 2-of-2 (100%)

Adreian Payne: 2-of-2 (100%)

Keith Appling: 1-of-1 (100%)

Derrick Nix: 4-of-6 (66.7%)

Branden Dawson: (1-of-2 (50%)

Michigan State Offensive Averages:

Scoring: 62.0 (62.0 PPG)

Scoring Margin: -4.0

Field Goal %: 38 (24-of-64)

3-Point FG %: 24 (4-of-17)

3-Pont FG's Made Per Game: 4.0

Free-throw %: 77 (10-of-13)

Free-throws Made Per Game: 10.0

Rebounds: 43 (43 per game)

Rebound Margin: +14.0

Assists: 9 (9.0 per game)

Turnovers: 15 (15.0 per game)

Turnover Margin: -3.0

Steals: 9 (9.0 per game)

Blocks: 3 (3.0 per game)

Opponent Averages :

Scoring: 66.0 (66.0 PPG)

Field Goal %: 46 (25-of-54)

3-Point FG %: 46 (6-of-13)

3-Pont FG Made Per Game: 6.0

Free-throw %: 77 (10-of-13)

Free-throws Made Per Game: 10.0

Rebounds: 29 (29.0 per game)

Assists: 13 (13.0 per game)

Turnovers: 12 (12.0 per game)

Steals: 11 (11.0 per game)

Blocks: 10 (10.0 per game)