Tom Izzo isn’t one to throw a party over a lopsided win-especially not in January. After Michigan State’s 43-point dismantling of Maryland on Saturday, the Hall of Fame head coach wasn’t popping champagne. Instead, he was pumping the brakes.
Yes, the Spartans are off to an 18-2 start. Yes, they just blew the doors off a Big Ten opponent.
But Izzo’s message was clear: don’t get carried away. “The brunt of our schedule is coming up,” he said postgame, a reminder that this dominant win doesn’t mean the toughest challenges are behind them-it means they’re just getting started.
And he’s not wrong. Maryland, like Rutgers earlier in the week, is near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.
From the opening tip, it was clear the Terrapins were overmatched. Michigan State controlled the tempo, dominated defensively, and got whatever it wanted offensively.
But Izzo knows better than to let a blowout win over a struggling team inflate expectations. That’s the kind of mindset that’s kept him among the sport’s elite for decades.
What’s coming next for the Spartans is far more telling than what just happened.
After a trip to face Rutgers-a team that, while also struggling, will be playing at home where anything can happen in this conference-Michigan State’s schedule tightens like a vice. They’ll host in-state rival Michigan, then hit the road to face a much-improved Minnesota squad. After that, they welcome Illinois, one of the Big Ten’s most complete teams, before heading to Wisconsin, where winning is never easy.
That’s a five-game stretch with four legitimate threats, each capable of handing the Spartans an L if they’re not locked in.
And it doesn’t let up after that.
They’ll close the season with a gauntlet: home games against UCLA and Ohio State, then road trips to Purdue and Indiana-two of the toughest environments in the league. Add in a rematch with Rutgers and a finale at Michigan, and it’s clear why Izzo is keeping the mood grounded.
This final stretch includes four ranked opponents in the last 11 games. It’s the kind of schedule that can either sharpen a team into a March contender or expose its flaws before tournament time. For a Michigan State team flirting with one of the best starts in program history, the opportunity is massive-but so is the challenge.
Izzo’s not being a buzzkill. He’s being realistic.
He knows that beating up on Maryland doesn’t mean you’re ready for the Big Ten’s top tier. And while fans might’ve been ready to start talking trash after a 43-point win, Izzo’s looking at the long game.
That’s what great coaches do.
So enjoy the win, sure-but don’t mistake it for a finish line. For Michigan State, the real season is just beginning.