“If you’re great at everything, then you’d be the number one team in the country and we’d just sign up for the Final Four,” he said. “We’re a long ways from that. We understand who we are and what we are—we don’t have a big margin for error.”

Regardless, Izzo said he’s confident the team will continue to grow throughout the rest of the season and is looking to focus on some more positive aspects heading into one of their most significant games of the season. 

“We have battled into a position where we’re in the hunt for things, and that’s where you want to be,” he said. 

Scouting the opponent 

After starting the year ranked No. 4 in the nation, falling to 7-7 and weathering a storm of COVID-19 issues, Michigan (10-7, 4-3) has started to right the ship with a three-game win streak over Maryland, Indiana and Northwestern. According to BartTorvik, they’ve posted an average adjusted offense rating of 129.5 in that stretch for their best run of form this season. 

It’s clearly a different Michigan team than the one Michigan State was originally scheduled to play, one with a confidence that wasn’t on display earlier. As Izzo pointed out, much of that is dependent on one of the bigger and more talented teams in the Big Ten finally shooting better and getting stronger production from their main line. 

In dominating performances against Maryland and Indiana, “monster” sophomore center Hunter Dickinson has recently showcased the versatile play-making abilities that garnered him Big Ten Freshman of The Year honors in 2020-21. While Izzo said Michigan State will use a variety of different coverages to try and contain him, the challenge of guarding one of the top big men in the league marks a noteworthy opportunity for senior center Marcus Bingham Jr. 

“I kind of take my matchups personally,” he said. “I have goals for myself and so, with this game, I do have a goal and that’s to come up with a win.” 

Both of the Wolverine’s highly-touted freshmen in the frontcourt have developed positively with freshman forward Moussa Diabate’s rebounding and scoring prowess making a difference for Michigan. Meanwhile, freshman guard/forward Caleb Houstan has become a valuable contributor since refinding his shooting stroke by averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting a highly-efficient 68.8% from behind the arc in his last three games. 

Graduate transfer Devante’ Jones and graduate guard Eli Brooks round out Michigan’s much-used starting lineup in the backcourt. As Jones continues to settle into his role at point guard, it’s Brooks’ qualities that make him Izzo’s “favorite player” on Michigan. 

“He’s been there forever, but he’s a very smart player,” Izzo said. “He always checks the best offensive player, he makes great plays, he makes great decisions, he gets all the loose balls. He’s their Draymond Green—he’s the glue.”

Izzo said they haven’t used much of the prep work done for Michigan State’s canceled Jan. 8 game against Michigan and have instead focused on their most recent chunk of games due to the improvement at hand. He also pointed out the “irony” in the Spartans entering that first matchup on an eight-game win streak while Michigan was mired in a four-game skid compared to now, with Michigan State dropping their most recent game and the Wolverines on a three-game win streak. 

Then there’s the emotional preparation needed for one of the biggest games all season. When asked about getting up for a rare “key rivalry” game that was abruptly shuttered, junior forward Malik Hall said he thinks he and his team are at the same level as they were going into the first matchup and perhaps even more emotionally ready for the game. 

“It just gives us a little more, like ‘Shoot, this the one we get this year,’” he said. “And so, we gotta do something with it.” 

Izzo downplayed the potential boost his team might get coming into a big game off a close loss but said he knows there’s always a chance for things to get taken to the next level in this rivalry. 

“Anytime you play your rival, things get a chance to get picked up,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what sport, where you are and I know our fans are looking forward to Saturday.”