No. 8 Michigan State clinched a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship Wednesday without stepping on the court. The Spartans can win it outright Thursday with a victory over Iowa in Iowa City.
Second-place Michigan took a 71-65 home loss Wednesday night to Maryland to ensure the Spartans (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) will own at least half of their first conference title since 2019-20.
A Spartans loss on Thursday would give the Wolverines a chance to share it. The in-state archrivals meet in East Lansing on Sunday in their regular-season finale.
Spartans coach Tom Izzo made it clear during his weekly press conference that while winning a regular-season title is an accomplishment, it’s not the ultimate prize for a perennial powerhouse seeking its first NCAA Tournament title in 25 years.
“There’s other goals that we have,” Izzo said. “Playing better all the time, so we get more prepared for the tournaments that are coming up, when it’s one bad day, one bad half, and now you’re out.”
Earlier this season, Izzo passed the late Bob Knight for most Big Ten head-coaching victories. The conference title (full or partial) is Izzo’s 11th, tying him for the all-time record among Big Ten coaches.
“It’s exciting to be in the position,” Izzo said. “I’m not making it a bigger deal or a smaller deal. I’m making it this is why you came here. This is what we do here. We don’t hang things of records. We hang things of championships.”
The Spartans carry a five-game winning streak into Iowa City, with the last four coming against Top 20 opponents. Freshman Jase Richardson led Michigan State in scoring in three of those victories.
In a 71-62 win over Wisconsin on Sunday, Jaden Akins provided the spark with 19 points. It was the highest output by the senior guard since Jan. 9.
The Spartans go 10 deep, a luxury most national title contenders don’t have.
“We’re nowhere near peaking,” Izzo said.
However, they are well aware the Hawkeyes (15-14, 6-12) could slow their momentum.
“It’s Senior Night, they got some good seniors that have been there. Michigan State comes in, and we understand it’s a big game,” Izzo said. “We understand that there’s pressure on them, pressure on us. That’s the nature of the beast, so we’re excited and ready to go.”
Iowa, which hasn’t played since a 68-57 loss at Northwestern on Friday, got off to a 12-4 start but has since gone 3-10.
That slide has some people wondering about Fran McCaffery’s job status. McCaffery, in his 15th season as Iowa’s head coach, has no plans to leave voluntarily.
“I’m fully committed to the program, to the players,” he said. “I have no intention of moving on.”
Senior forward Payton Sandfort says that McCaffery shouldn’t be judged by how he acts on the sidelines. Sandfort is the team’s active leader in scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg) with Owen Freeman (16.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) out for the season after undergoing finger surgery.
“He gets a really bad rap because of his antics on TV, but all that is is just caring for us and wanting the best for his players,” Sandfort said. “That’s what I’ve noticed throughout the last four years is just how much he really does care about us and wants to protect us.”
–Field Level Media
