Minneapolis — It's not often MSU head coach Tom Izzo throws around words like "outcoached" and "outplayed," no matter what the circumstance.

That is what made Saturday's 69-55 loss to Minnesota that much more surprising. It was an always-tough Big Ten road game, but that wasn't the deciding factor in this game.

What was, though, is the Spartans came out unprepared from the start.

"Offenses mean nothing, defenses really don't mean much, either — it's getting players to play at a level that is at a frenzy and getting them to play hard," Izzo said.

"I think over the years we've done a pretty good job of that, but (Saturday) we were outcoached and outplayed and that disappoints me because it hits home."

Minnesota (12-9 overall, 3-7 Big Ten) played better on both ends of the floor — five Golden Gophers scored in double-digits, led by Vincent Grier's 15. The Spartans (18-6, 6-4) were paced by junior guard Shannon Brown's 19 points and senior center Paul Davis 17. The rest of the team combined for only 19 points.

"I told my team I really appreciate it when you get what you deserve," Izzo said. "Minnesota got what they deserved. Michigan State got what they deserved, and there's really not a lot of complaining to do either way."

What was most surprising is how Minnesota limited MSU's opportunities on the fast break while also denying the ball entry into the post, which resulted in a stagnant offense for much of the game.

"They defensed us very well," Izzo said. "I thought we stood around (and) I did not think we posted up Davis very well, I did not think we set very good screens; I thought they were physical, they checked us and they got to all the loose balls."

When the Spartans could get the ball inside to Davis, Minnesota double-teamed him while keeping pressure on the perimeter.

"We've got enough guys, enough weapons to play around that and we just have to do it," Davis said.

Senior guard Maurice Ager and sophomore guard Drew Neitzel shot a combined 3-for-17. All the factors were there for a long day.

"Offensively, we never really got anything going," Neitzel said. "Everything we got, we had to earn. We didn't get any easy baskets."

Despite the fact they were being outplayed, the Spartans came back to take a four-point lead midway through the second half, but it didn't last long.

"I didn't think we were ever in the game, even when we were ahead," Izzo said. "I was disappointed maybe in all ends of the court, for us, but I'd say that Minnesota had the most to with that. They just played harder."

MSU shot 35.5 percent in the second half, and made one field goal in the last seven minutes of the game.

"I've been a little soft in practice lately because I've been paranoid about this three games in six days and I really didn't have a good barometer for where my team was," Izzo said. "We seemed to be tired, so I'll learn, they'll learn and we'll move on."

Davis didn't see it the same way as his coach did.

"It's a game; you're always supposed to be ready for that," he said. "The last couple of days we've had a tough schedule, three games in six days, so we're trying to find a happy medium and everything went today."

Now, MSU squares up with Iowa on Tuesday in a game that could make or break its Big Ten title hopes.

"We've got a good enough team to win the next six games and we've got a good enough team to lose the next six games and I think a lot of teams are in that boat in this league," Izzo said.