By most accounts, MSU already has secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans put a "signature win" on their résumé by beating then-No. 1 Wisconsin at home last Tuesday, and further flexed their tourney muscles with a 66-58 victory over Indiana on Saturday. The team has won four games in a row.
But MSU head coach Tom Izzo is adamant that the team is not in a position to take anything for granted and that there is still work to be done. The Spartans (21-8 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) have two road games remaining in the regular season, the first of which is tonight against Michigan (19-10, 7-7). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor.
"We want to continue to improve because we know there's nothing like playing well at the end of the year," Izzo said at his weekly press conference Monday. "When teams play well at the beginning of the year, it's good. When teams play well at the end of the year, it's great. So that's what we're trying to sell our guys on."
The Spartans and Wolverines last met on Feb. 13, with MSU prevailing, 59-44. As the Spartans have done all season long, they defeated the Wolverines with defense. Only one U-M player — guard Dion Harris — scored in double figures. No other player scored more than seven points.
MSU is holding opponents to a Big Ten-best 56 points per game, and during the current four-game winning streak, the Spartans have held opponents to 35.2 percent shooting from the floor.
U-M has a bit more at stake in the game. Tommy Amaker's crew may be a long shot to make the NCAA Tournament at this point, but beating MSU certainly would be a step in the right direction. Izzo said his players shouldn't have any trouble finding motivation, however.
"I wouldn't underestimate that the rivalry is still the rivalry," Izzo said. "It's still Michigan-Michigan State. I've heard comments that maybe their rivalry is Ohio State or someone else. But I know to us it's Michigan-Michigan State, and that's the way we'll approach it."
MSU hopes junior guard Drew Neitzel, the team's leading scorer, will be healthy enough to be effective against the Wolverines. As of Monday, he still was feeling the effects of an upper respiratory infection. Neitzel scored 17 points against Indiana, despite the illness.
"I kinda handle this like I do stress fractures," Izzo said. "I tell the doctor, 'Tell me when he can practice,' and pump liquids into him and maybe give him some of my witch doctor, U.P. remedies.
"He'll play. I can say that just knowing the kid."
Potty mouths?
The MSU administration informed Izzo that it was concerned with some of the language being used by the Izzone in recent games.
"I don't hear much," Izzo said. "When I'm on the court, I'm just kind of glued-in to those zebras (referees) and really don't listen or hear much of anything else. Even when I'm on the road — now and then I'll hear a cat call, but not (very) often.
"It was addressed to me by more than a few people. … We're going to do something about it, if it's as unclassy as I hear it is."
