The stats/data/metrics love them. Top 15-20 across the board, anything you look at.
5 of their 8 losses are to top 10-15 teams, with the other 3 being the home opener against JMU, at Nebraska and at Northwestern.
They throttled Baylor.
Make no mistake, they are a very good team.
They are a good team, have great guard play, and could very well beat the Illini but I do think the Illini present some matchups issues for them.
MSU has some guards in Walker, Akins, Hoggard, and Holloman but those guys are going to have to guard Shannon, Domask, and Rodgers. Rodgers in particular could clean up on the boards unless they choose to put Hall on him but that creates matchup problems elsewhere. I almost wonder if we're going to see more Coen Carr than he typically plays just so Izzo can get some length on the wing.
Their bigs in Sisoko, Cooper, and Kohler also aren't great and don't look super comfortable on the perimeter where they will have to play to follow Hawkins. Also none of them are the type that score a bunch inside which the Illini can struggle defending. If they play Kohler at all I think that's a good time to let Dainja spell Hawkins and he will absolutely feast on Kohler offensively.
Gameplan should be pretty similar. Don't let Walker and Akins kill you from 3, and make them shoot over bigger defenders. Then on the offensive end don't settle for 3's and long 2's. Keep the ball moving and bully them inside.