Back atop Big Ten standings, Michigan State basketball knows path to title won't be easy

Back atop Big Ten standings, Michigan State basketball knows path to title won’t be easy

Posted by author February 24, 2025 Basketball

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Michigan State basketball has four games remaining in its quest for a record-tying 11th Big Ten regular-season title under Tom Izzo.
MSU has maybe the toughest path to the title in the final two weeks, starting Wednesday in College Park.
Three of the Spartans’ final four games are against the other teams fighting them for the regular-season title, with the other a road game at always-challenging Iowa.

After the Crisler Center crowd filtered toward the exits early, after the celebration on the court ended and as the locker room jubilation reached its denouement before the glow of the bus ride home, perspective began to settle in for Michigan State basketball.

Yes, Friday night’s 75-62 win at No. 12 Michigan was exhilarating. Yes, it put the 13th-ranked Spartans back atop the Big Ten standings.

But by no means, players urged each other and those who’d listen, does this finish the job.

“We just knew that we had to come in and win the game, honestly,” freshman Jase Richardson said after his 21-point, six-rebound masterclass. “We still got four really tough games that we gotta finish the season out with.”

MSU’s third win in six days — against fellow contenders Illinois, Purdue and U-M — reasserted its presence and re-established its position leading the chase for what would be Tom Izzo’s Big Ten record-tying 11th regular season title.

“One game at a time, man. One game at a time,” junior Tre Holloman said.

With the Boilermakers’ shocking second-half road collapse Sunday at Indiana — their fourth straight loss — ending their hope for a third consecutive conference crown, the contenders, pretenders and spoilers are further crystalized for the final two weeks, with no breaks in the Spartans’ remaining schedule if they hope to win at least a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 2020.

Here is an overview of what remains for MSU and other top teams ahead of the first 15-team Big Ten tournament, which starts March 12 in Indianapolis.

Contenders

MSU (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten)

Remaining games: Tuesday at Maryland, Sunday vs. Wisconsin, March 6 at Iowa, March 9 vs. U-M.

Michigan (20-6, 12-3)

Remaining games: Monday at Nebraska, Thursday vs. Rutgers, Sunday vs. Illinois, March 5 vs. Maryland, March 9 at MSU.

Maryland (21-6, 11-5)

Remaining games: Tuesday vs. MSU, Saturday at Penn State, March 5 at Michigan, March 9 vs. Northwestern.

Wisconsin (21-6, 11-5)

Remaining games: Tuesday vs. Washington, Sunday at MSU, March 5 at Minnesota, March 8 vs. Penn State.

The buzz: MSU has maybe the toughest path to the title in the final two weeks, starting Wednesday in College Park. Three of the Spartans’ final four games are against the other teams fighting them for the regular-season title, with the other a road game at always-challenging Carver-Hawkeye Arena. However, the wins in Champaign and Ann Arbor show Izzo’s team is calm and comfortable in the villain role. The Wolverines’ final five games, though, give MSU a run for degree of difficulty — Nebraska is always tough at home. But U-M also gets three straight at home against unpredictable but talented Rutgers and Illinois as well as the Terrapins before making the return trip to East Lansing to close the regular season. Maryland has won four straight and eight of its last nine, and the Badgers had won five in a row before a shocking home collapse and overtime loss to Oregon on Saturday. Still, Wisconsin also has the easiest remaining schedule, though the road game against the Golden Gophers will be war and on short rest after the visit to MSU.

Fighting for double-bye

Purdue (19-9, 11-6)

Remaining games: Friday vs. UCLA, March 4 vs. Rutgers, March 7 at Illinois.

UCLA (20-8, 11-6)

Remaining games: Friday at Purdue, March 3 at Northwestern, March 8 vs. USC.

The buzz: The Boilermakers’ four straight losses not only all but end their reign as two-time defending Big Ten champ, but it could force them to open Big Ten tournament play on Thursday, with only a single bye. Purdue also has lost twice already at home, and the game against the Bruins will determine if Matt Painter’s team can work its way into a double-bye. Meantime, UCLA, which won Sunday at home over Ohio State, has a boatload of travel ahead even before the NCAA tournament. The Bruins visit John Wooden’s alma mater and hostile Mackey Arena next and then make a quick turn to Chicagoland to face downtrodden Northwestern before a crosstown rivalry finish. And then it’s a quick trip back to Indy for their Big Ten tourney debut.

Pretenders

Illinois (17-11, 9-8)

Remaining games: Tuesday vs. Iowa, Sunday at Michigan, March 7 vs. Purdue.

Oregon (20-7, 9-8)

Remaining games: Saturday vs. USC, March 4 vs. Indiana, March 9 at Washington.

Indiana (16-11, 7-9)

Remaining games: Wednesday vs. Penn State, Saturday at Washington, March 4 at Oregon, March 8 vs. Ohio State.

Nebraska (17-10, 7-9)

Remaining games: Monday vs. Michigan, Saturday vs. Minnesota, March 4 at Ohio State, March 9 vs. Iowa.

The buzz: Three of the preseason favorites to compete for the league title — Illinois, Oregon and Indiana — are out of contention after a tough two-week stretch. The Hoosiers, however, have the look of a dangerous postseason tournament team after upsetting MSU on the road and overpowering the Boilermakers on Sunday. The Illini enter the last two weeks on a three-game losing streak, including Saturday’s 43-point nonconference humiliation at the hands of Duke, while the Ducks recovered from losing five straight and six of seven to win their past four. Oregon has a week off after Saturday’s overtime upset at Wisconsin and could make noise in Indianapolis, with the visit from Indiana another pivotal late-season showdown. And Nebraska has three of its final four at always-tough Pinnacle Bank Arena, with a chance to spoil the Wolverines’ title hopes Monday.

Spoilers

Rutgers (14-14, 7-10).

USC (14-13, 6-10).

Iowa (15-12, 6-10).

Minnesota (14-13, 6-10).

Northwestern (14-13, 5-11).

Penn State (15-13, 5-12).

Washington (13-14, 4-12).

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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