Just like Tony Montana, Michigan coach Tommy Amaker always tells the truth ... even when he lies.

Amaker used every spin move in the book to side-step and dodge questions on the importance of Sunday's game with Michigan State (2-3 Big Ten, 10-7 overall) at Crisler Arena. When asked of the significance of the game, he continued to say that the team was looking at it as "just the next game" for the Michigan program and the importance of the rivalry.

But the Wolverine's (5-0, 12-6) "next game" is coming against their biggest rival who has gotten the better of them in the last eight meetings. Since the last time Michigan defeated the Spartans in 1998, Michigan State has won a national championship, four Big Ten Championships and beaten the Wolverines by a total margin of 170 points in eight games.

Luckily for the Wolverines, they are not facing the explosive Spartan teams of the late '90s. With a 10-7 record and already three losses in the Big Ten, this is the weakest Michigan State team that Michigan has faced in a long time.

Despite the recent struggles, Michigan State demolished Penn State, 70-36, Wednesday night in a game in which its offense and defense returned to form.

The only thing any Michigan player was willing to say about the upcoming game was that it was going to be a physical, hard-fought game. But the Wolverines would not recognize that winning the game would be big for the program.

"If we win it will be a big win, but we will just have go forward to the next win," Pontiac native Lester Abram said. "But it will be no bigger than any of the other wins that we have won so far."

Senior LaVell Blanchard, who in the past has forced himself to watch Michigan State celebrate winning the Big Ten championship, returned questions to reporters like a tennis pro.

"I'm not going to say anything," said Blanchard, who will probably get his last chance to beat the Spartans on Sunday. "I am just going to play the game, see what happens and keep my mouth shut."

Even freshman Daniel Horton, a Cedar Hill, Texas native and one of the brasher members of the team, was playing dumb to the rivalry. It was not until the level of dominance of the rivalry was compared to Texas-Oklahoma in football that the point guard understood the one-sidedness of the past five years.

"Obviously, I don't know because I am not from around here," said Horton, who is averaging 15.8 points per game. "But (my teammates) say they want to win, just like any other game."

But he feels that ignorance is bliss and can be used to his advantage in his approach to Sunday's game.

"I can come in and not worry about what has happened in the past against them - because I don't know."

Needless to say, many of the other Wolverines are sure to remember the thrashings delivered at the hands of the Spartans the past five years and will be looking to turn the tide on the rivalry.