Not long ago, MSU was shooting for an NCAA Tournament game at The Palace of Auburn Hills and possibly even for a No. 1 seed.

Now the team is just trying to stay in the rankings.

After losses to Ohio State and Indiana last week, the Spartans (19-9 overall, 7-7 Big Ten) fell seven spots to No. 25 in this week's Associated Press poll.

If the season ended today, the Spartans would have to play on the first day of the Big Ten Tournament and would likely have to travel out of state for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

That's left many — including head coach Tom Izzo — wondering what happened to the team that many analysts pegged for the Final Four just weeks ago.

"There's disappointment, not panic, in our office," Izzo said Monday at his weekly news conference.

That disappointment is only in comparison to what was expected of the team, Izzo said.

"At 19-9, it's not like we haven't gotten some things done," Izzo said. "We just haven't maybe done what we think we can do yet."

Izzo has no problem pinpointing all the problems that have plagued his team in its recent losses — untimely turnovers, sporadic rebounding, late-game fatigue.

But he still says postseason run is a possibility because all those things are still correctable.

"As far as my confidence in the team, as crazy as it sounds, I still think we have a chance to win our last two games," Izzo said. "If we do that, I think we go into the Big Ten Tournament on a high and have every bit a chance to win as anybody else."

Trannon update

Izzo said there's a chance that senior forward Matt Trannon could be back for the Big Ten Tournament next week.

Izzo said Trannon has improved significantly since his jaw was broken 10 days ago, and was fitted for a protective face mask — a la the Pistons' Richard Hamilton — on Friday.

The mask will be ready in a few days, but it remains to be seen how much Trannon can play with it, Izzo said.

"If that all works, that's one part of it," Izzo said. "And then there's a mouthpiece part of it — that's two parts of it. And then there's a pain part of it — that's three parts.

"And the fourth part is maybe the most critical — if, with all those things, he can breathe."

Ager nominated

Senior guard Maurice Ager was named one of 10 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, presented by the United States Basketball Writers Association to its player of the year honoree, and the Senior CLASS Award, given to the outstanding senior player of the year.

In 28 games this season, Ager is scoring a team-best 19.2 points and averaging career highs in rebounding (4.2) and assists (2.8).

Schedule set

Saturday's game against Illinois has been set for noon, which will give the Spartans less than 40 hours of rest after Thursday's game against Wisconsin.

"That is going to be a quick turnaround," Izzo said. "It's kind of apropos for the year — it was a rough start and it'll be a rough ending.

"But the same side of it, if you've got Senior Day, I don't see it playing a major factor."

Fans are encouraged to wear white to Thursday's game and green to Saturday's game.