NCAA Basketball: Duke, Michigan State fall in latest top 25 power ranking
By Joey Loose
11. Michigan State (1-1)
The Spartans haven’t exactly been at the top of the Big Ten standings in recent years, but returned basically everyone expect for Joey Hauser this season. Tom Izzo’s squad was full of talent and experience and many of them had played in this system for at least. Thus, the Spartans are considered a national favorite, perhaps to even cut down the nets in early April.
Consistency issues reared their ugly heads again as the Spartans dropped a mind-boggling decision on opening night, losing at home 79-76 in overtime to James Madison. Tyson Walker was heroic with 35 points but got very little help from the rest of the starters. Michigan State got into the win column three days later with a 74-51 win over Southern Indiana. Four of their five starters were in double figures, with center Mady Sissoko putting up 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Spartans have only played two games and the jury is clearly not out on how this season will transpire. Struggling mightily and losing to James Madison was not ideal, though even worse has been the Spartan’s abhorrent long-range shooting to start the season. There’s little time to change things, as the Spartans head to Chicago, facing Duke next week in the Champions Classic.