In years past, when MSU head coach Tom Izzo wanted to get a feel for how his team was doing, there were certain players he knew he could talk to and find out.

Right now, he's not sure where to turn.

"The last three or four years, it's been harder for me to gauge our team because we haven't had that true, true leader," Izzo said Monday at his weekly press conference.

"I'm talking about the guys that give you a barometer or give you a feel for where your team's at. I just don't have those type of guys, and talking to other coaches, I'm not sure many do in this league."

While senior guard Maurice Ager, senior center Paul Davis and junior guard Shannon Brown have improved as leaders this season, none of them has emerged as a clear-cut No. 1, Izzo said.

"We have decent leadership. It's not awful," Izzo said. "But it's not one that gives me a pulse."

And although having a go-to guy helps Izzo understand where his team needs work, he cautioned it isn't a necessary condition for success.

"That makes it easier for the coach — it doesn't mean it's the only way to get it done," he said.

Izzo should have a much better feel for his team after its showdown with conference-leading Iowa at 9 p.m. today at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Since losing at MSU by 30 on Jan. 21, the Hawkeyes have won five of six — including a 70-67 victory at then-No. 24 Indiana on Saturday — to move atop the Big Ten.

The Spartans, meanwhile, are trying to minimize the damage from Saturday's upset at Minnesota. They trail Iowa by a game and a half but are still guaranteed no worse than a share of the conference title if they win their last six games.

"Unfortunately, we took a slap in the face Saturday, but destiny is still in our hands," Izzo said. "If we take care of our business, we don't need any help."

A different loss

Sophomore guard Drew Neitzel played one of his worst games of the season against the Gophers, shooting 1-of-8 from the field and compiling more turnovers (four) than points (three) before fouling out.

But Izzo said there might have been an unseen reason why Neitzel was out of sync — one of his high school classmates, Marine Cpl. Ross Smith of Wyoming, Mich., was killed in Iraq last week.

"I don't want to make a big deal about that," Izzo said. "It's just something that bothered him that he didn't even let us know about until a day and a half later."

"I felt for him after, and I felt for him that he tried to hold it all in. It's been a tough deal for him for a couple days."

Debunking

Izzo refuted a column printed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune which said he e-mailed Minnesota head coach Dan Monson after Saturday's game saying, "I'm happy for you but you cost us the Big Ten title."

Izzo said he never e-mailed Monson but did call him Saturday night to congratulate him on an important win for his program.

"He's gone through kind of a tough year," Izzo said. "I gave him a buzz and said, 'Hey, you deserve to win that game. You deserve to feel good for once.'"

Izzo said he didn't say anything to Monson about the Gophers costing MSU the title.

"I think I said, 'put a serious dent in our Big Ten Championship hopes,'" Izzo said.

"It was in a total complimentary way."