MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Monday that the Big Ten has many teams playing well going into the second week of conference play.
“I thought that Iowa would be my surprise pick in the league and I don’t think that has changed much,” Izzo said of the 12-2 Hawkers. “I still think they are playing pretty well.”
Izzo also credited the play of Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin and Penn State, who are a combined 42-10.
Four Big Ten teams are ranked in this week’s RIP rankings, which are based on a team’s strength of schedule and record against ranked opponents. The Big Ten is rated the top conference in the poll.
Three of the teams - MSU, Illinois and Wisconsin - are ranked in this week’s Associated Press top 25.
The Spartans dropped to No. 3 after Sunday’s loss to Indiana, Illinois moved up two spots to No. 7 after a win against Ohio State and Wisconsin dropped to No. 12 after a loss to Minnesota.
Earning more national respect, senior guard Charlie Bell is one of two players in Division I to average more than 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Through 13 games he’s averaging 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists a game.
Izzo said Bell - an All-American and John R. Wooden Award candidate - is extremely valuable to the team and deserving of the recognition.
“He’s handling the ball, he’s calling the plays and he’s in charge of things,” Izzo said. “I’m not going to ask the guy to do many more things. I already ask him to do everything. I’d be the first to admit it isn’t fair.”
Even though MSU’s 23-game consecutive winning streak was snapped Sunday, the streak ranked eighth all time in the conference, MSU’s home win streak - the longest in the nation - still stands at 37 games.
