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     The stage is set-- Friday morning 11:30 in Indianapolis and the stands won't have many people in them either.  It's the quarter-final day of the women's Big Ten basketball tournament and Michigan faces Michigan State at 11:30 on the Big Ten Network in the day's first game.  The Wolverines made it all possible with a 67-54 win over Northwestern on Thursday.  The Wolverines actually had a 22-point lead at halftime and saw it cut to ten before ending the Wildcats' season.

     Michigan has lost six straight games to MSU in women's play.  The last was 50-45 a couple of weeks ago in Ann Arbor where Michigan has come close on several occasions.  But MSU clearly is the better team to the point where I think the Spartans are in the Michigan players' heads.  Michigan can win if MSU lets it happen.  MSU has much better players and more depth but in basketball that doesn't always rule the day.  MSU is on a roll with 10 wins in their last 11 games and I see no let up in sight.  MSU is rested and ready and figured it would face Michigan again.  Michigan now has a 17-12 record and it would be a clear upset if the Wolverines win Friday and advance to the semi-finals.  Look for the Spartans to win by 12.