However, that doesn’t mean the Spartans have completely forgotten how the season ended. After losing the final two regular season games meant MSU had to share the Big Ten Championship with Michigan and Ohio state, the Spartans came to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on a mission.

“We definitely want to break the tie,” Green said Saturday.

What’s done is done as far as the regular season goes, but Green and his teammates still don’t feel good about sharing. Heading into the conference tournament, which MSU hasn’t won in 12 years, the Spartans said they wanted to make it to Sunday for a chance at redemption.

Well, here we are.

Ten teams have been eliminated from contention, but MSU has its shot at taking what the Spartans believe to be theirs. And, fittingly, that opportunity comes against Ohio State, the very team that spoiled MSU’s Senior Day and ruined its hopes for an outright conference championship, at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

After the Spartans dropped that game to the Buckeyes, they were disappointed they wasted such a big opportunity, especially since it came in front of so many family and friends at Breslin Center.

So, if revenge had the MSU players motivated Sunday, who could blame them. But while revenge might cross the Spartans’ minds, it’s not their main focus.

“It don’t really matter at this point,” junior center Derrick Nix said when asked if he’d like another shot at Ohio State or a chance to beat Michigan again. “We’re in the championship game, and I’m just happy to have the opportunity to play.”

On Sunday, there’s a lot more on the line than bragging rights or revenge.

With a win, MSU would capture its first Big Ten Tournament title since 2000, when the Spartans went on to also win the National Championship. And following the early departures of Kansas and Duke in their respective conference tournaments, the winner of tomorrow’s final could end up with a No. 1 seed.

Green said he and his teammates know that, but they also know the only way to prove they deserve a top seed is by showing up ready to play tomorrow.

Only one thing will be on the minds of the Spartans on Sunday, and it won’t have anything to do with payback or seeds. Inspired by the focus of the team’s leader, MSU simply wants to knock off the Buckeyes and take the co of co-champion.

Then, let the chips fall where they may.

“We can win this conference championship and still not get a one seed,” Green said. “All those things will take care of themselves. We just have to focus in and do what we do.”

Jeremy Warnemuende is a men’s basketball reporter. He can be reached at warnemu3@msu.edu.