Michigan State closed out the regular season with a 79-62 win over in-state rival Michigan.
Now, the Spartans, winners of seven straight games, turn their attention to the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State is the No. 1 seed following its outright regular season Big Ten championship. The Spartans will take on the winner of Oregon vs. Indiana on Friday at noon in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals in Indianapolis.
Both Oregon and Indiana have been hot lately. The Ducks have won seven straight games and the Hoosiers have won five of their last seven games.
“Whoever we play, it’s going to be a challenge,” Tom Izzo said. “If you look at it, Indiana beat us and Oregon had us down 14 points. Those two teams were two of the teams that were picked in the top (six) at the beginning of the year. Oregon is maybe the hottest team right now in the league … Indiana has done a great job down the stretch.”
RELATED:
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo named the 2024-2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year
Michigan State men's basketball earns multiple Big Ten postseason honors
Michigan State’s Jase Richardson is uncommon in more ways than one
For tradition, for former players: Holloman stood on business vs Michigan
Sunday's win shows Tom Izzo’s Michigan State program bond is still special
Tom Izzo reminds Michigan: Our Senior Day traditions are about us, not you
While Michigan State will have the rest advantage, there is something to be said about Oregon or Indiana already having a game under their belt in Indianapolis.
“The first day always worries me,” Izzo said. “I think there is an advantage for the team that plays the day before. Then, the advantage goes away because fatigue sets in.”
This season, Izzo led the Spartans to a 26-5 regular season record with a 17-3 Big Ten record. As a result, he won his 11th Big Ten title and he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
“You don’t win these (awards) without your staff and your players,” Izzo said. “I mean they win the award. They do the grunt of the work. I just manage it. Number one, I want to thank them all publicly because we preach to our players all the time: if the team has success, the individuals within the team will have success.“