Throwback game pivotal in Big Ten race

Bring out the platform shoes, the bell-bottoms and K.C. and the Sunshine Band on the 8 Track because it's "Turn Back the Clock" night Saturday as the Hoosiers travel to Michigan State to take on the Spartans at 8 p.m in the schools' 100th meeting. \nThe ESPN-televised game will feature old-school uniforms for the players and a little something special from IU coach Mike Davis.\n"I've got an afro coming," Davis said with a smile. "Red sports coat with the plaid pants and the stack heels. Back in the day, the fellas wore stack heels."\nThe throwback uniforms will add excitement to the big game between two of the top teams in the conference. IU (11-6, 5-1 Big Ten) rides a five-game win streak into East Lansing. So far, the Hoosiers have won three road games in the Big Ten -- two more than they won all of last year.\nThe Breslin Center at MSU is a tough place to play, and IU has lost 10-straight in East Lansing. IU senior guard A.J. Moye said the crowd is a big part of Michigan State's home success.\n"They put the freakin' kids all around the court," Moye said. "I've played there three years, and I haven't heard a play called one time. … (Michigan State coach Tom) Izzo, he's animated. He's a great coach. He has those boys fired up at home. They rarely lose there."\nThe Spartans (9-8, 4-2) overcame a 16-point halftime deficit Wednesday at Minnesota to win 79-78 in overtime. MSU is only one game out of first place in the Big Ten after a grueling pre-conference schedule left them at 5-6 entering the Big Ten season. \nDavis said the two teams are similar.\n"They're playing like us," Davis said. "They're playing well. Tough schedule. They're playing great right now. We're catching them, and they're catching us. The only difference is they're playing at home. They're well-coached, good team, but the crowd is just unbelievable."\nThe Spartans are led by sophomore center Paul Davis, and junior guard Chris Hill. Davis is 6-foot-11. IU center George Leach is excited about the match-up with Davis, especially since he missed playing against the big guys from Wake Forest, Missouri and Kentucky.\n"I can't wait actually," Leach said. "I missed all the teams I wanted to prove a point against their big guys. Paul's another one."\nAnother road win would do wonders for IU's chance at the Big Ten crown. IU sits atop the conference standings tied with Wisconsin. But the Hoosiers play six out of their last nine games after MSU at home. \nMoye knows the Hoosiers have to take care of business.\n"If we don't win the Big Ten or if we don't compete to try to win the Big Ten, we've got nobody to blame but us," Moye said. "It would be a darn shame to work this half, almost halfway through the season, this hard and just lay down the rest of the way … There's banners up there. We've got 20 Big Ten titles. That's something special. That's not something you get every year. It takes focus and concentration."\n-- Contact staff writer Tyler V. Hoeppner at thoeppne@indiana.edu.