Big Ten Basketball: Michigan’s rout puts them on top of Power Rankings

9. Michigan State Spartans (8-4, 2-4 Big Ten)

At some point, it will be time to judge Michigan State not on what they can be, but on what they are. Right now, what they are is a lower-echelon team in the Big Ten.

The Spartans have only won two games in conference play so far, and one of them was against the terrible Cornhuskers. The other was a rout of Rutgers, but that looks less impressive as the Scarlet Knights are reeling.

The problem for Michigan State is that they aren’t winning the games they should be, let alone the ones they can. Friday’s loss to Purdue is a startling example. Michigan State led by 15 at the half and by as much as 17 in the game. But the Spartans went cold at the end and coughed the game up to the Boilermakers, scoring just 54 points in the contest.

Michigan State might be better than their record, but they aren’t playing that way. It’s hard to feel confident projecting another win for the Spartans before their February 3rd home against Nebraska. If they don’t turn things around quickly, Michigan State could miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997.