Michigan State basketball isn’t just winning games - it’s winning the national spotlight.
Through games played as of December 22, the Spartans have emerged as the most-watched men’s college basketball team in the country, according to Nielsen viewership data. That’s no small feat, especially when you consider the company they’re keeping.
Michigan State has already faced - and mostly conquered - the rest of Nielsen’s top-five: Arkansas, Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky. The Spartans went 3-1 in those marquee matchups, with wins over Arkansas in East Lansing, Kentucky under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, and North Carolina down in Ft.
Myers, Florida. The lone stumble came against Duke on December 6 at the Breslin Center.
Behind the Spartans in the viewership rankings are perennial powerhouses like Kansas, Louisville, Indiana, Connecticut, and Purdue - all rounding out the top 10. That’s the level of attention Michigan State is commanding right now. And they’ve earned it.
This isn’t just a hot start - it’s a statement. Coming off a frustrating football season that saw the Spartans miss a bowl game for the fourth straight year, Michigan State fans have found a welcome reprieve on the hardwood. And what a follow-up it’s been to last year’s basketball campaign - a 30-6 run that included a Big Ten title and an Elite Eight appearance.
Now, this year’s squad is 12-1 overall after closing out non-conference play with a win over Cornell on Monday night. Ranked No. 9 in the country, the Spartans are also 2-0 in the Big Ten with early wins over Iowa and Penn State, showing they’re not just stacking wins - they’re building momentum.
Tom Izzo, never one to sugarcoat things, offered a candid reflection after the Cornell game. “I hate to admit it, but every coach puts down probably its schedule and he looks at the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario,” he said.
“My best-case scenario probably would've been 11-2. My worst-case scenario would've probably been 9-4, 10-3.
I'm really excited on where we are.”
That excitement is rooted in more than just the win column. Izzo pointed to real growth in areas that had been concerns earlier in the season - namely, how his team handles zone defenses.
“We’ve had our struggles with zones, and we don’t struggle with zones anymore,” he said. “Partly because we’re doing a better job of shooting the ball, part of it because the coach did a little bit better job coaching it instead of not doing his job, as I told you after the Duke game.”
It’s classic Izzo - self-deprecating, honest, and always locked in on improvement. And that’s exactly what this team has shown.
They’ve taken on a wide range of opponents, from blue-bloods to mid-majors with bite, and they’ve found different ways to win. Izzo even gave credit to some of the less-heralded names on the schedule: “Colgate I think 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 showing up in the standings, in the national rankings, and in the eyeballs glued to their games. Michigan State isn’t just playing well - they’re playing compelling basketball. And with conference play heating up and matchups against Indiana and Purdue still to come, the Spartans are in position to keep that momentum rolling well into the new year.
For now, the Breslin Center is buzzing, the fanbase is locked in, and Tom Izzo has his team looking like a real contender - again.