Having been plagued by inconsistent scoring, foul trouble, road games and questionable toughness, Izzo still considers turnovers to be the bottom-line issue.

“The turnover situation is something that we talk about every week and it hasn’t changed,” Izzo said. “That part is concerning and disturbing. They are something I wrestle with more than ever. They kind of show a lack of discipline and that’s what I should be controlling.”

In conference games, the Spartans average 4.4 more turnovers than their opponents — worst in the Big Ten in turnover margin. They increased their turnovers per game from 13.8 to 16.1 since ending the nonconference schedule. Izzo said it’s fortunate for the team that the one problem ailing them the most is very solvable.

“It’s going to be a little bit by players deciding they’re not going to make the foolish, risky passes or the half-court fumbles that we’ve made,” he said. “If we just get (the turnover total) down to 12, 13, 14, you start talking five to six turnovers a game difference and you’re definitely talking three to six points difference. Of the (five MSU losses), four of those are one-point games with a minute left and it wouldn’t take much to win those.”

Revenge week

With Iowa and Penn State coming to town this week, Izzo didn’t dispute the fact that this week could be seen as a chance for the Spartans to take some revenge on the Big Ten foes.

MSU was upset at Iowa and Penn State earlier this season in road games that were expected to be cakewalks for the Green and White.

“This would be a way to prove that we’ve got to earn our stripes back,” Izzo said. “It’s a big week for us.”

Penn State (12-12 overall, 4-8 Big Ten) comes to Breslin Center on Wednesday, while the Hawkeyes (11-15, 4-9) travel to East Lansing on Saturday.

“Every game, home or away, is a big game for us,” Izzo said. “If we get two wins, we’re 22-5 and moving in the right direction.”

Ray of hope

Since scoring a career-high 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Spartans’ first Big Ten game of the season on Jan. 5 against Minnesota, sophomore forward Raymar Morgan has gone cold.

“I’ve got a lot of questions on Raymar,” Izzo said. “After his great start, he’s had some ups and downs … mostly downs.”

With the exception of an MSU victory at Northwestern, in which Morgan had 23 points, he’s scored below his team-leading average of 15.1 points in every game since Minnesota.

“Raymar went from an average player to a great player,” Izzo said. “Why he can play like he did in the first half of the Purdue game and then in the second half, he’s a monster on the boards and scores 12 points in a half are the questions that keep coaches up late at night. But he’s done it before and it’s always easier (to fix) with a guy who’s done it before because you know he can do it.”