College Basketball Games of the Week: Historic Women's Clash, Huge Rivalries

The two greatest women's basketball programs are going head-to-head. There are a pair of rivalries in East Lansing. The top teams in the Big Ten in men's and women's college basketball are facing off. 

The big college basketball games this weekend will impact conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding.

There are top teams in men's and women's hoops going at it, and we're here to help you prepare for the action. 

No. 3 Michigan at No. 7 Michigan State (Friday 8 p.m. ET on FOX) 

Key Michigan players: Yaxel Lendeborg (Senior, Forward), Morez Johnson Jr. (Sophomore, Forward), Elliott Cadeau (Junior, Guard)

Key Michigan State players: Jeremy Fears Jr. (Sophomore, Guard), Jaxon Kohler (Senior, Forward) Carson Cooper (Senior, Center)

Michigan's last game: 75-72 win against No. 5 Nebraska

Michigan State's last game: 88-79 OT win against Rutgers

What's at stake: Michigan hasn't defeated Michigan State in the Breslin Center since 2018, when John Beilein was the Wolverines' head coach. Michigan is on its second coach since Beilein, while Tom Izzo still resides over the Spartans. This Michigan State team plays his brand of basketball — tough, rugged — and is the No. 1 ranked defense on KenPom. Michigan, in its second season under Dusty May, is the No. 2 ranked defense. This is a rivalry, and a rubber match of two teams who win with defense and size.

Ohio State @ Wisconsin (Saturday 2 p.m. ET on FOX)

Key Ohio State players: Bruce Thornton (Senior, Guard), John Mobley Jr. (Sophomore, Guard), Devin Royal (Junior, Forward)

Key Wisconsin players: Nick Boyd (Senior, Guard), John Blackwell (Junior, Guard), Nolan Winter (Junior, Forward)

Ohio State's last game: 84-78 win against Penn State

Wisconsin's last game: 67-63 win