“In evaluating everything I would say that it’s time for a sense of urgency more than it is a sense of panic — (I’m) very disappointed,” Izzo said. “We did not play with a sense of urgency from the opening tip, losing that, to the first play missing a three and letting them get going.”

Izzo went on to say how the No. 13 Spartans have “a big three weeks” ahead of them, all starting with a road game against Purdue this Thursday. Missing from that game will once again be junior forward Branden Dawson, who is still recovering from a broken hand.

As far as senior guard Keith Appling, who was on the court for 19 minutes in his first action in three games, Izzo said he has no idea if he will be on the court against the Boilermakers.

“You guys watched him, you guys saw him, (he was) a little rusty — which I understood,” Izzo said. “(His) hand didn’t seem to get any worse, yet when you watch him shoot or pass the ball you can definitely tell that it isn’t back 100 percent.”

Izzo also added the possibility of shutting Appling down for the remainder of the regular season in order to get him back at close to full strength come Big Ten Tournament time.

Speaking of returning from injuries, Izzo also spoke on Payne and how he has been in his four games back after missing a month with a sprained foot.

While Payne continues to say how much he is improving with his conditioning after games, Izzo is seeing a different story on the court.

With taking time off practice for a month with some days off scattered in the past couple of weeks, Izzo said the time away from the practice gym is catching up to him.

“Adreian walked around half the night like he was dead tired, which doesn’t totally surprise me,” Izzo said.

In the last four games, Payne has given MSU 16.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. While his production on offense has given the Spartans one of their top threats back, Izzo is concerned that his team is relying too much on his presence.

“The hardest part is that we played with some incredible passion (with Payne out), and Adreian comes back and guys are standing around waiting for him to do something,” Izzo said.

Despite losing to the Huskers last night on a home court, the Spartans are still in first place in the Big Ten title race with Michigan, who lost to Wisconsin minutes before MSU tipped off on Sunday.

Regardless, Izzo knows his team is in the right position to bring the conference title back to East Lansing.

“We’re still in first place,” Izzo said. “We still have destiny in our own hands.”