Michigan State Basketball: 3 reasons why Spartans win 2021 Big Ten title

Michigan State Basketball: 3 reasons why Spartans will win 2021 Big Ten title

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans smiles during the second half of the game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 18: Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Weaknesses of the other Big Ten contenders

Wisconsin is one of the tougher teams in the Big Ten and could prove to be a roadblock in MSU’s chances of four-peating. They return all of their top scorers and put an experienced team on the floor. Coached by Greg Gard, the Badgers will be a tough out every night for whoever has the misfortune of seeing them on the schedule. The problem is that Wisconsin has only beaten MSU once in the past four years. Izzo has had Gard’s number.

For Maryland, it’s a different story. They lose two of their top contributors in Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith, and it doesn’t look like they have immediate replacements for either. Darryl Morsell and Aaron Wiggins should take over the Terps, but they don’t have the same firepower as the top Big Ten teams. Expect them to regress a bit. Mark Turgeon is a good recruiter though, and they won’t be down for long.

Iowa is a team that could be a dark horse contender for the Big Ten. They bring back reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza as well as a bevy of shooters around him. However if they don’t figure out their defense, they won’t be a real threat to the Spartans.

Teams like Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue, Minnesota, and Indiana just lack the talent or coaching to be able to unseat MSU. It should be the Spartans’ conference to lose.

Home/Michigan State Spartans