Perfect Spartans clash with struggling Pirates. Can East Carolina spoil Michigan State's hot start before a bigger test?
The Michigan State Spartans will take their perfect 5-0 record to Florida as they open the Fort Myers Classic against the East Carolina Pirates (2-3). Let's take a look at how and when to watch this matchup in the Sunshine state.
Game Info
- Matchup: Michigan State Spartans vs. East Carolina Pirates, Fort Myers Tip-Off
- Time: 1 p.m. Tuesday
- Location: Suncoast Credit Union Arena, Fort Myers, Florida
- TV/Radio: FS2; BTN/Spartan Sports Network (WJIM 1240-AM, WMMQ 94.9-FM; SiriusXM Ch. 195)
Michigan State enters Tuesday afternoon’s matchup riding high, while East Carolina looks to find its footing early in a shaky season. Though this game opens the event, it’s clearly the prelude to a much bigger test for MSU—Thursday’s showdown with North Carolina. Still, with the Spartans in Florida all week and a blue-blood waiting on Thanksgiving, avoiding a trap game is top priority.
Michigan State: Past 5 Games
- Colgate – W, 80–69
- Arkansas – W, 69–66
- San Jose State – W, 79–60
- Kentucky – W, 83–66
- Detroit Mercy – W, 84–56
Michigan State Overview
The soon-to-be top-ten Spartans are rolling. Behind Jaxon Kohler’s 15.2 PPG and Jeremy Fears Jr.’s 10.4 APG, Michigan State is playing its best, most complete basketball since the 2020 team whose postseason was cut short by COVID-19.
After being ranked just 22nd in the preseason and labeled as a team that lost too many shooters, MSU has quickly flipped the narrative. The Spartans have already beaten two top-15 SEC teams by a combined 20 points, and they look confident, connected, and disciplined—three traits missing in recent seasons.
This matchup heavily favors Michigan State, and although no official betting line has been posted yet, it’s reasonable to expect something around MSU -26.5 based on current form. Still, with a top-ranked North Carolina team looming, Tom Izzo’s group must stay locked in and avoid looking ahead.
East Carolina: Past 5 Games
- Georgia Southern – W, 92–89
- Richmond – L, 72–87
- Elizabeth City State – W, 72–71
- UNCW – L, 60–85
- Charleston Southern – L, 65–77
East Carolina Overview
Michael Schwartz’s Pirates have stumbled out of the gate, starting 2–3 and struggling on both ends of the floor. Schwartz sits at 54–54 in his East Carolina tenure and did guide the Pirates to just their second above-.500 finish since 1990 last season—but key departures and vacated perimeter shooting have left this year’s roster searching for answers.
The defense has been porous, the offense inconsistent, and the early-season energy lacking. While it’s still early, the Pirates face a massive challenge against an MSU team firing on all cylinders.
Prediction
Michigan State’s shooting has caught fire, and heading to warm, sunny Florida should only keep the Spartans loose and confident. This matchup serves as a strong tune-up before the heavyweight clash with North Carolina later in the week.
Expect MSU to control the pace, dominate the boards, and overwhelm a struggling ECU squad.
Prediction: Michigan State 91, East Carolina 60