MSU, which is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a 90-85 victory over Penn State on Jan. 15 in East Lansing. Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and is coming off a 94-69 win over Indiana in its most recent game on Jan. 11.

A look at Michigan State's basketball game Sunday against Illinois – including matchup analysis, how to watch, the betting line, and a prediction.

Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith said a busy offseason in his program will help build consistency and continuity going into Year 2.

Michigan State, which posted a 5-7 record in Smith’s first season and lost 13 players to the portal, officially added 27 newcomers to the roster this week at the start of the spring semester. There are 11 early enrollees from the 2025 high school signing class and 16 transfers. “There was some positions of need. … We got that done,” Smith said.

The Spartans made a number of transfer portal, recruiting and coaching additions as Jonathan Smith enters his second season in East Lansing.