Michigan State coach Tom Izzo yells to his team during during the second of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin upset Michigan State, 60-58. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

When Michigan hosts Michigan State high noon Sunday, it will be one of the biggest basketball games in recent years between the two in-state rivals.

Here are the reasons why:

The Impact – This particular game is more significant for Michigan than Michigan State. The Spartans have built up their resume based on nearly two decades of steady and solid accomplishments under Tom Izzo. They have reached the Final Four six times, won seven regular season Big Ten championship and three conference tournament titles. The Spartans have not only reached the NCAA tournament consistently, but have been a consistent force.

Michigan’s basketball drought had been a long one, since the late 1990s. The Wolverines are just starting to gather accomplishments under John Beilein. Sharing the Big Ten title with Michigan State and Ohio State two years ago was a start. Reaching the NCAA championship game last year a major step forward.

It was eye-opening when the Wolverines defeated three Top Ten teams within a span of a week last month, including MSU at the Breslin Center. Michigan had never done it before, and were the first team nationally to pull off the feat since 1996-97.

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The Wolverines have started to beat MSU enough recently (five of the last seven meetings after losing 18 of the previous 21) it’s started to make the green and white element in this state uncomfortable.

It remains a step-by-step process for the Wolverines. Beating MSU Sunday would put the Wolverines in position to win the Big Ten regular season title, or at least share it for the second time in three years. It would also be a sweep of MSU, which the Spartans had done routinely to Michigan until the recent turnaround.

The Coaches – Izzo already has his induction ticket printed to just about any hall of fame he is eligible for, and it isn’t a matter of if he is going to be considered one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time, but to what degree.

Will he eventually get into the Mike Krzyzewski and Dean Smith class or fall somewhere just short?

Yet, John Beilein has had an underrated career. He did very well at West Virginia. He has had success at virtually every level of college basketball. Beilein is proving the aura of Izzo and the magnitude of the Michigan job aren’t too big for him.

Michigan is the stop that will could seal his legacy, especially if he continues to stand toe-to-toe with Izzo and landing just as many punches in a basketball sense. A win Sunday would be just more proof Beilein has escaped Izzo’s shadow.

Players From This State – There was a time this game centered on players raised in this state, but not so much anymore.

Four of the five leading scorers, on both teams, who will likely play Sunday, are from outside the state.

It says something for the recent state of high school basketball in Michigan. It is decidedly down in regard to high-end talent.

Yet, there are still some very important players from this state taking part in this rivalry game. Michigan’s Derrick Walton (Chandler Park Academy) has done as well as can possibly be expected of a freshman filling the big shoes of National Player of the Year Trey Burke, who starring in the NBA as a rookie with the Utah Jazz.

Jordan Morgan (University of Detroit Jesuit) has been a solid and underrated player throughout his career for the Wolverines.

Denzel Valentine (Lansing Sexton) and Matt Costello (Bay City Western) have appeared as role players at MSU, but their upside could be more in the future.

The Meaning – The sheer magnitude of the NCAA tournament suggests the last team standing between these two come March will actually be the winner. Still, this is a huge game. This state will be watching with great interest. The MSU-Michigan rivalry has never been more relevant.