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Michigan St. wary of depleted Purdue rallying ‘together’

spt-120218-msupurduepreview

Mike Miller

If you thought Purdue not having two key players for Sunday’s game vs. Michigan State has given the Spartans an added dose of confidence, you’d be wrong.

They know that’s when surprising scores happen.

“There is always that one game that everybody rallies together and tries to pick things up,” senior Draymond Green told the Detroit Free Press. “We just have to watch that and be conscious of that.”

The absence of wings Kelsey Barlow and D.J. Byrd affects the Boilermakers’ offense and defense, though. That’s clear. Barlow (dismissed from the program) was one of their best defenders and a starter. Byrd (suspended one game) is their top perimeter threat. The No. 7 Spartans (21-5. 10-3 in Big Ten) are better at every position and deeper, too.

But it is a Big Ten conference road game. Funny things happen on the road.

All of Michigan State’s conference losses have come on the road: at Northwestern, at Michigan and at Illinois. All three aren’t as good as Michigan State.

Keep that in mind today. The Spartans are.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.