7. Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
Michigan State entered last season with sky-high expectations but were major disappointments, finishing just .500 in the Big Ten and falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tom Izzo entered his 30th season as the head coach with a lot of question marks, especially after several straight disappointing finished in the Big Ten. Suffice to say, this year’s edition of Michigan State basketball looks pretty different.
Jaden Akins is leading a balanced Spartans attack, as the Spartans have currently won 11 games in a row. Early losses to Kansas and Memphis are certainly forgivable, while this active win streak includes nice performances over North Carolina, Ohio State, and most recently Illinois. Michigan State sits atop the league standings at 7-0 and have played some efficient basketball since conference play began in January.
Izzo has had some great moments and performances across the last three decades, but this year’s team seems pretty special. They don’t quite have the same level of talent as some of his Final Four teams of past eras, but these Spartans are answering every call and just keep rolling, with nearly two months passing since their last loss. This team is in great shape to win the Big Ten while Izzo really is having a revival with this unit.