Losing streak could ignite fierce Spartans

Perhaps the only thing scarier than a team like Michigan State riding a winning streak is a team like Michigan State riding a losing streak. \nThe Spartans enter tonight's game with IU after consecutive Big Ten losses to No. 7 Illinois and No. 21 Wisconsin. Both games might have been stronger statements about the home teams than the traveling Spartans, but nobody seems to doubt that No. 14 Michigan State will carry the quintessential chip on its shoulder.\n"It's going to be like a war out there," freshman forward Ben Allen said. "They've lost two away games now, and they're looking for a win. And they're just going to fight as hard as hell to get a win against us."\nBut Hoosier faithful needn't worry too much.\n"We're the same," Allen continued. "This is our first road trip in the Big Ten and we're going to go out and we're going to get this win and keep Michigan State winless in the Big Ten."\nIU coach Mike Davis said Monday that this year's scenario surrounding the Michigan State trip seems eerily similar to the 2003-04 season. The Hoosiers entered East Lansing riding a five-game winning streak, including the most recent victory over a ranked Big Ten team. But Davis said some players on that team looked past the Spartans and, to no surprise, IU fell 84-72. \nJust to further the eeriness, that 2003-04 team then returned home for an important game against Illinois, which it also lost. After Michigan State, the No. 9 Hoosiers also will return home to play the Illini Tuesday.\n"We've got to go in there and try to win," Davis said. "This can't be a game that we go into saying, 'Well if we lose, it's no big deal.' It's a big deal."\nIU holds the all-time edge over the Spartans at a total of 61-40. But recently it's been Michigan State winning three of the last four meetings, with IU winning the latest affair in overtime last season, 78-74. Davis holds a 5-6 lifetime mark against Tom Izzo and the Spartans, but the Hoosiers are aware that history is meaningless once the Breslin Center is filled and the first tip is tossed.\n"I know the crowd is going to be wild and they're just going to be absolutely crazy about getting a win," Allen said. "I don't think it's going to compare to anything I've ever played against before."\nThe history can be recounted and similarities can be drawn, but all the story lines seem to whittle down to the same point -- Michigan State needs a win and IU knows it.\n"Without a doubt I know they're going to be fired up," senior guard Marshall Strickland said. "They really need this win and we need it too, to separate ourselves from the pack"