It doesn't look like Jerel McNeal will be playing for Marquette tonight, so I'll stick with my original prediction that MSU wins a defensive game by five or six points. McNeal is dressed, but he's spent most of the pregame standing under Marquette's basket with his injured right thumb heavily bandaged.

If the Big East Defensive Player of the Year was a full go, even at slightly less than 100 percent, I'd take the Golden Eagles because of their athleticism in the backcourt. But no McNeal means no big matchup problem for Raymar Morgan and a hair more breathing room for Drew Neitzel and Travis Walton.

Predicted final score: MSU 65, Marquette 60.