The UConn men's basketball team should gain useful experience grappling with a top-10 preseason opponent and a hostile road environment, facing off against Michigan State at the Breslin Center.
Dan Hurley's squad hosted Michigan State in an exhibition last year, earning a 76-69 win at PeoplesBank Arena, so Tom Izzo will have some degree of revenge on his mind in Tuesday's exhibition. Here's everything you need to know:
How to watch
The Spartans and Huskies will tip off at 7 p.m. from East Lansing. The game is available on B1G+ (Big Ten Plus) for a one-time, pay-per-view fee of $8.99, or over the radio on UConn Sports Network.
Injury update: Braylon Mullins nears return
Star UConn sophomore Braylon Mullins participated in warmups Tuesday evening, but is not expected to play against Michigan State. Mullins is managing an undisclosed injury and did not participate in last week's exhibition against Syracuse.
Dan Hurley, Tom Izzo relationship
Hurley has overtaken Izzo with two national championship titles during a recent stretch of dominance in Storrs, but he's still a long way off the Michigan State coach's lofty win total of 764. Izzo and Hurley have been vocally aligned on several issues regarding G-League eligibility and transfer portal regulations, and the two veterans are also part of an 'old-school coaches' group chat along with UCLA's Mick Cronin and former Butler and Ohio State coach Thad Matta.
UConn vs Michigan State matchup history
As two of college basketball's premier powers over the past 40 years, UConn and Michigan State have surprisingly only faced off eight times, although three meetings have come in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State won the most significant game between the two schools in 2009, outlasting UConn 82-73 in the Final Four.
UConn exacted revenge three years later at one of the most unique venues in college basketball history, upsetting Izzo's program 66-62 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany - UConn's women's program was scheduled to open their season at the same venue last season, but a government shutdown relocated the game to the U.S. Naval Academy. Izzo and Hurley met seven months ago in the NCAA Tournament East Regional Semifinal, where 20 points and four assists from Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn to a 67-63 win.
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This article originally published at UConn men's basketball faces Michigan State in top-10 preseason exhibition: Live updates, analysis.