22. Michigan State (8-2)
After being a major disappointment last season, Michigan State entered this season with a different look and with different expectations. No one expected elite play from the Spartans in the opening month of the season, though they played reasonably well in Maui, including a nice win over North Carolina in overtime. They’re living up to lesser expectations and really got Big Ten play off to a hot start this week.
The Spartans went to Minnesota on Wednesday and left town with a 90-72 victory featuring their best offensive performance of the season. Coen Carr led the Spartans with 12 points as the team shot 50% from outside the arc in a rare performance. Saturday’s follow-up was even better, with Michigan State winning 89-52 at home over Nebraska. Jaden Akins scored 18 points while Jase Richardson added 16 in another nice performance for the freshman.
Even with hard-fought losses against Kansas and Memphis, Michigan State’s stock is rising as the season progresses. Their offense is playing its best ball over the last two weeks after some abhorrent shooting in their opening games. The defense looks impressive, the shots have started to fall, and it’s time to wonder if the Spartans can make serious noise in the Big Ten. We won’t actually see them in action again until they face Oakland on December 17th.