Michigan State Basketball Rolling Into Big Ten Play With Momentum, Eyes on Another Deep March Run
Year 31 of the Tom Izzo era is shaping up to be another classic in East Lansing. Michigan State has wrapped up non-conference play at 12-1, and the Spartans are once again in prime position to extend one of college basketball’s most impressive streaks - what would be their 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. And based on how they’ve started this season, that streak isn’t just safe - it’s thriving.
According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Michigan State is currently projected as a 3-seed in the East Region in his final Bracketology update of 2025. That projection would pit the Spartans against 14-seed Quinnipiac in the opening round, with a potential second-round matchup against either 6-seed Arkansas or the winner of a First Four game between 11-seeds Miami and Ohio State.
What stands out about this hypothetical bracket is how familiar the terrain is for Michigan State. They’ve already seen the region’s top seed, Connecticut, in an exhibition.
They’ve faced Duke - the projected 2-seed - during the regular season, as well as Arkansas and 16-seed Colgate. And they still have a matchup with Ohio State on the horizon.
That kind of schedule doesn’t just build résumés - it builds readiness.
If the Spartans take care of business in the opening weekend, they'd head to Washington D.C. for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. And should they make it through, the Final Four would bring them to a very familiar stage: Indianapolis.
The Big Ten, as usual, is flexing its depth this season. Lunardi has 10 teams from the conference in his projected field - tied with the SEC for the most in the nation. That kind of competition is nothing new for Izzo’s teams, but it does mean there’s little room for error over the next couple of months.
Last year, Michigan State finished 30-6, reached the Elite Eight as a 2-seed, and won the Big Ten regular-season title by a comfortable three-game margin. That was their deepest tournament run since 2019, and their first conference championship since 2020. Repeating that success is the next challenge, and they’re off to a solid start at 2-0 in league play.
Next up: a road trip to Nebraska on January 2 to kick off the final 18 games of the Big Ten slate. With wins already in hand over Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina, the Spartans have put together a résumé that’s more than just tournament-worthy - it’s battle-tested.
Izzo, never one to sugarcoat things, admitted after Monday’s win over Cornell that even he’s been pleasantly surprised by where his team stands.
"I hate to admit it, but every coach probably puts down a best-case and worst-case scenario when they look at the schedule," Izzo said. "My best-case was probably 11-2.
Worst-case, maybe 9-4 or 10-3. So I’m really excited about where we are."
And it’s not just the record - it’s how they’ve gotten there. Michigan State has faced a wide range of playing styles and defensive looks, including plenty of zone.
Early in the season, that gave them trouble. Not anymore.
"We’ve had our struggles with zones, and we don’t struggle with zones anymore," Izzo said. "Partly because we’re doing a better job shooting the ball, and partly because the coach did a little better job coaching it - instead of not doing his job, like I told you after the Duke game."
That kind of candor is classic Izzo - part self-deprecating, part motivational, all-in on growth. And that growth is showing up in how this team plays.
"We’re all learning, we’re all growing together," he added. "Going 12-1 with the schedule we’ve played - and remember, Colgate is very good, I still think Oakland is a very good team.
We all want to look at the North Carolinas and Dukes, and rightfully so, but Iowa is a very good team. We’re making progress."
That progress is visible on both ends of the floor. The Spartans are shooting it better, defending with more purpose, and showing the kind of cohesion that’s been a hallmark of Izzo’s best teams. With conference play heating up and March looming in the distance, Michigan State looks like a team that’s not just aiming to make the tournament - they’re gearing up to make noise once they get there.
And with Izzo at the helm, you know they’ll be ready.