Michigan State, with its season seemingly on the line, trailing 72-64 with 6:44 left in the game, stormed back for a desperately needed win over a highly-ranked opponent. This was the marquee win the Spartans needed on the resume they’ve put together in the 2023-2024 season thus far.

Some breathing room away from the NCAA Tournament bubble.

A.J. Hoggard's 23 points, five assists and zero turnovers led the Spartans in this “make it or break it” showdown in East Lansing.

You often hear athletes, coaches and competitors describe the “suffering” that goes hand in hand with their passion and drive. Fans often romanticize the imagery evoked in this “Rocky Balboa” trope, the “tortured artist,” consumed with legacy, obsessed with the pursuit of perfection.

Often, this “anguish” is an exaggeration.

If you’ve listened to Tom Izzo discuss the Minnesota loss, though, you know Izzo isn’t “exaggerating for effect.”

“Maybe you don't rip me, I don't know, I don't read your stuff,” Izzo joked with the media following the Illinois win. "But I ripped myself. I did a number on myself the first two days...”

I can picture it now - Izzo sitting in a dark room, reminiscent of Glenn Close in “Fatal Attraction” lamp on, lamp off. Stirring, analyzing, debating.

“Then I rose up from the ashes,” Izzo said, “and decided to work again."

29 years, rising and falling, pursuing perfection.

“Thank god for home court,” said Izzo as he opened his post-game press conference. “Thank God for our fans.”

MSU now finds themeselves 13-2 at home this season, and Izzo makes sure his players fully understand the unique environment the Breslin Center offers, as well as the Michigan State fan base as a whole.

“It just makes me realize why I never left Michigan State,” Izzo said when thinking about the atmosphere against Illinois. “I told my team after (the game) that they were lucky they got to participate in something 95% of the guys that go to college never get to witness, never get to be a part of, never get to do.”

The energy pregame, and throughout this epic battle Saturday was something you can only find in March Madness, conference championships ... and East Lansing.

Izzo envisioned MSU’s success versus the Illini being two pronged.

"We went into the game with this in mind, we have to rebound, we ended up tied (in rebounds), we can't turn the ball over, we had six," Izzo said. "We got to get to the free throw line more than them, because they get there an enormous amount.”

Izzo recalled the two teams' first meeting at Illinois, where they were outshot at the free throw line 22-7 for the Illini. Not today. MSU had 34 while Illinois only put up 20.

But as wide as the free throw margin was, the disparity in three-point shots was even more evident. Illinois shot 30 threes (making 11) compared to just eight attempts from MSU, making five of them.

”I was surprised that we were only five for eight from three,” Izzo said. “But was some of it calculated? It was. We said were going to go inside — and we got some shots in there.”

So what does this mean?

"So, all in all, I think we beat one of the most talented, best teams that we played," Izzo summarized.

The refs were spotlighted today, a statement surely followed by happy fans, coaches, and players, right? Uh, negative.

43 combined fouls were called in this game, with seemingly every one of them triggering animated reactions from both Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and Izzo.

“It was an interesting game,” Izzo said, “I don't think either one of us (Izzo and Underwood) were happy with some of the calls.”

Izzo joked with Underwood that “maybe at halftime you and I go sit and have a drink and watch it on TV, because we're probably both going to get thrown out of here.”

Izzo was asked how he plans to consistently get this team to play at a high level.

His explanation for why at times teams fall short of MSU basketball expectations was refreshingly insightful.

“I mean, lets face it, our backs are a little bit against the wall, you know,” Izzo confessed. "That big white elephant that was in our locker room (elephant = the team massively underperforming based on expectations), I dealt with that big white elephant for two weeks because I just think they don't understand. They just think they're at Michigan State, so it's in the cards that you're in the tournament and you're this and you're that. So, I’ve had some malicious meetings on that."

After MSU’s 59-56 loss to Minnesota, AJ Hoggard was the receptient of much criticism, which he admitted was not completely unjustified.

Hoggard said, “I gotta be better in those situations, especially when Tyson goes down like that.”

Much of Izzo’s post game presser at Minnesota was him expressing (indirectly) his disapointment in his senior guard play, and lack of leadership.

Today, AJ Hoggard was everything Izzo begged, and expects him to be.

“AJ has been a guy that I’ve been on for four years," Izzo said." Tonight you saw why.”

MSU hits the road to Happy Valley this Wednesday, looking to get their 12th win in their last 16 games. The Penn State Nittany Lions have won three straight and sit at 6-6 in the Big Ten standings.

I’m sure Izzo’s preparation has already begun.

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