NCAA basketball rivalries: Ranking the top 25 college basketball rivalries

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: A fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels (L) and the Duke Blue Devils pose for a photo while holding a sign referring to the Duke/UNC rivalry during the semifinals of the ACC Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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No. 7 – Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans

All-Time Series: Michigan leads 94-85

The fact that these are consistently two of the top programs in college basketball and have been so throughout history only serves to bolster the overall intrastate rivalry between these schools. From recruiting battles for local prospects to Big Ten conference championships to NCAA Tournament seeding and Final Four berths, this rivalry has ratcheted up a few notches in recent years with both teams figuring prominently on the national scene.

Each program has been led by iconic coaches, with Michigan helmed by hall of fame level coaches in Steve Fisher and John Beilein, and Michigan St.’s own hall of fame coach in Tom Izzo leading Sparty’s lines. From the Fab 5 to Magic Johnson, star power is littered throughout their respective program histories. The games have been mostly competitive and hard-fought. One does not have to reside in Michigan to be a fan of this heated rivalry.

Game of Note: February 12, 2013 – No. 8 Michigan St. def No. 4 Michigan 75-52

As with any rivalry of this stature, there were many games from which to choose. However, this contest would be the first matchup between the two teams as top-10 ranked opponents, a distinction that has been repeated four more times in the seven years since and which marked the beginning of the peak of this rivalry, with both teams consistently vying with each other for local recruits, intrastate bragging rights, and national prominence.

Michigan would avenge the loss 19 days later in the second such contest as top-10 ranked opponents with a 58-57 victory at home, en route to capping off the season with a berth in the national championship game, falling to the Louisville Cardinals.