Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball vs. Michigan State: 3 matchups to watch

By Trevor Gersmehl

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – MARCH 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball against Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on March 2, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – MARCH 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball against Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on March 2, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Rob Phinisee vs. Cassius Winston

If you watched a lot of IU basketball last year, chances are your favorite memory of the season was Rob Phinisee playing all-world defense, walling up Cassius Winston on the final possession of the game at Assembly Hall to seal a one-point victory over the Spartans.

Phinisee proved himself capable of elite perimeter defense in that game as he was required to guard the best player in college basketball and held his own down the stretch.

Now a key cog and the potential x-factor for Indiana this season, Phinisee needs to string together another great performance if the Hoosiers want to win this game.

As for Cassius Winston, what more can you say than is already known? He is simply the best player in college basketball.

He scores at all levels and is extremely gifted at making plays for his teammates. He is the crux of everything Michigan State does. Winston currently averages 18.1 ppg and 6.1 apg.

Winston surely hasn’t forgotten about the time a freshman locked him up and won the game for Indiana at home. This may be a bit of a redemption game for him, so Phinisee will need to sharp mentally and physically to keep Winston in check.

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