Now, as February comes to a close, MSU (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten) controls its path to its first Big Ten championship in five seasons. 

Or, as head coach Tom Izzo put it after practice Friday: "We don’t have to hope for anybody to win. We don’t have to hope for anybody to lose." 

The picture is simple. If MSU wins its final three games, two against top-15 teams, it will claim an outright Big Ten championship. No tiebreakers, no hoping for other teams to falter — the Spartans control their own destiny.

At 14-3 in Big Ten play, MSU is tied with Michigan atop the standings, and the rivals are set to meet in East Lansing on the final day of the regular season.

However, before they travel to play Iowa for the first time this season and their rematch with the Wolverines, the Spartans have to get through No. 11 Wisconsin on Sunday. 

The Badgers (22-6, 12-5), winners of their last three games at Breslin Center, rank first in the Big Ten in offensive efficiency according to Kenpom, led by Missouri transfer guard John Tonje’s 19.5 points per game. Sophomore guard and sparkplug John Blackwell, a native of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., averages 15.2 points per game in an elevated role after Wisconsin lost three of its top five scorers last offseason.  

The Spartans suffered two demoralizing losses to Wisconsin last winter. Now, the Badgers return to East Lansing with a high-powered offense and loads of confidence. Still, this MSU team is different from last season — more balanced, more resilient and with everything still in front of it.

"It’s really cool to see ourselves be talked about and all that," junior forward Carson Cooper said. "We don’t let any of that get to our head, and we’re dialed into what’s going on in front of us. But it’s really cool to be in this position to possibly make history."

Tip-off between MSU and Wisconsin is set for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 2 at Breslin Center. CBS will air the game. 

Peaking at the right time

The Spartans have spent much of this season navigating questions about their ceiling. After four straight wins in 12 days, they’ve provided an answer. 

MSU has become a national spectacle in the latter half of February, anchored by its depth and defensive proficiency. The Spartans have made a habit of shutting down opponents when it matters most, holding Illinois without a field goal for the final 8:29, Michigan for the final 4:12 and Maryland for the final 5:07. Their cohesion and chemistry in late-game situations make them a team built to win in March.  

"This team has always felt really special," junior forward Jaxon Kohler said. "Not just what we do on the court, but what we do off the court. The chemistry that we have with each other and how close we are and how much we want our teammates to succeed … throughout this whole year, we knew we were going to be good, but we didn’t focus on what we could do. We focus on what we want to do."

That chemistry has materialized in MSU’s play. Freshman guard Jase Richardson's emergence as a go-to scorer has elevated its offense. Junior guard Tre Holloman’s heroics have lifted MSU to pivotal wins. Its deep frontcourt rotation has worn down its counterparts over the past two weeks.  

The Spartans are playing their most connected basketball of the season, and their trust in each other has been evident in pressure-packed moments. Nine different players have led MSU in scoring this season, an unconventional formula that’s placed it on the doorstep of a conference title. 

"Don’t worry about what anybody else does," Izzo said. "Go earn everything yourself. (The) ball’s in our court."

The Spartans know their biggest tests still lie ahead. But after back-to-back weeks of proving themselves, they aren’t looking for outside help.