Tag: Michigan State Spartans basketball

Michigan State face-plant at Purdue sends message to Badgers

More on the Big Ten race

We said this earlier in January: There is no elite team in the Big Ten. We noted that Michigan State, though unbeaten in conference play, had played almost all of its conference games at home. Michigan State’s one road game in the league entering Sunday at Purdue was a game at Northwestern, one of the two terrible teams in the conference alongside Nebraska.

Michigan State, in other words, had not yet been challenged on the road in Big Ten play, due to its home-game-heavy schedule to start the conference season.

Guess what happened when the Spartans and Tom Izzo had to play a decent — but not even especially good — opponent on Sunday in West Lafayette? Michigan State was DEMOLISHED by Purdue, not merely beaten. The Boilermakers were 9-7 entering the game, but like the 9-7 Tennessee Titans, they looked like world-beaters against the first-place team in their conference. (Sports are funny that way.)

The Michigan State-Purdue result confirms our thesis at Badgers Wire: There is indeed no elite team in the Big Ten. Michigan State is not a Goliath looking down on everyone else. The Spartans are not a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They look a lot more like a 3 or 4 seed than a 1 or a 2 seed.

Guess what, then, Wisconsin fans? The Badgers can win the Big Ten. No, I wouldn’t BET on that, but I would certainly say that UW can make a run at the conference championship.

Yes, the loss to Illinois could really hurt the Badgers in two months, when we look at the final Big Ten standings, but Illinois is currently holding a second-place position in the Big Ten. Do you think the Illini will hold that position? If Illinois can be second now, Wisconsin can be second at a later point in time… and if Wisconsin can be second, it can make its way to first place.

Remember: The Badgers have won two Big Ten road games, and not against Nebraska or Northwestern. Wisconsin has beaten the kinds of teams Michigan State has not yet shown it can beat in the Big Ten away from East Lansing. If Wisconsin keeps winning some rock fights on the road in the conference, and Michigan State gains the same “Jekyll and Hyde” identity so many other Big Ten teams have in road games compared to home games, the Badgers will be in the thick of the hunt at the very end, in early March.

The Big Ten is wide open. Wisconsin can be part of the party. Don’t let anyone tell you this league is unwinnable for the Badgers.

10 for 20: Michigan State basketball

Michigan State basketball in the 2020s

The end of our series on the 13 non-Wisconsin Big Ten basketball programs at the start of the 2020s features the Michigan State Spartans. If one is to ask, “What is the biggest question facing the Spartans in the 2020s?”, it’s not about the success. That is assumed. It’s not about the consistency. That box has been checked. It’s not about the ability to play well in March. Michigan State has proved it can, in contrast to Purdue and Maryland, among others in the conference.

The main question is about the man responsible for Michigan State being so terrifically successful: “Will Tom Izzo coach through the entirety of the coming decade?” That’s the whole ballgame at Michigan State, is it not?

Yes, Tom Izzo was a Jud Heathcote assistant who was promoted from within two decades ago. Michigan State, as it turns out, didn’t need a national search or a splash hire to maintain and then improve upon Jud’s prosperous tenure in East Lansing. Izzo was not only sufficient, he was transcendent. He took what was a very good program and made it a monster.

The most amazing fact about Michigan State basketball under Tom Izzo is that only ONE senior class — 2014 — has failed to make a Final Four under his coaching. With Final Fours in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2019, you can see that the only gap of more than four years was 2010 to 2015. The 2014 class made the Elite Eight. That’s ridiculous.

The right question for the 2020s is not if Izzo can sustain. That’s what he does. The right question for the coming decade is not if Izzo can stay relevant or adaptable. That’s what he is. The only question is if Izzo will tire of the chase, of the continued pursuit of greatness and a second national championship. Tom Izzo’s hunger is a central storyline in the 2020s Big Ten. Only if Izzo steps down before 2030 will his successor become a huge question. We’ll see if we even get to that point before the decade ends.

Watch: UGA’s Anthony Edwards drops 37 on Michigan State

Georgia Bulldog standout freshman Anthony Edwards, who’s projected as a top NBA Draft pick, scored a career high 37 points in a loss to Michigan State. The third-ranked Spartans overwhelmed Georgia, much like the Dayton Flyers did yesterday. Anthony …

Georgia Bulldog standout freshman Anthony Edwards, who’s projected as a top NBA Draft pick, scored a career high 37 points in a loss to Michigan State. The third-ranked Spartans overwhelmed Georgia, much like the Dayton Flyers did yesterday. Anthony Edwards and company fought back and kept it close, but ultimately fell 93-85.

Georgia basketball will play again in the Maui Invitational tomorrow night at nine. Anthony Edwards is a reason to watch the Bulldogs play win or lose.

He made some spectacular plays against Michigan State and still has potential to grow much more as a playmaker. Edwards put on a show against Michigan State:

Edwards had an incredible pass here, but finished with only two assists and five turnovers. Edwards must continue to sharpen his distribution skills.  He also took 26 shots to score 37 points, so he will look to have more efficient performances moving forward.

Edwards made some big time plays on defense. He had a total of seven stocks (steals and blocks) including this beauty:

It will be fun to watch Anthony Edwards grow throughout the season. The Dawgs are now 4-2 and need a victory in tomorrow’s Maui Invitational finale. Georgia is going to need to improve to make the NCAA Tournament.

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