11. Michigan State (11-1)
The only thing that hasn’t gone right for Michigan State this season has been that tough home loss against Duke two weeks ago. Now obviously the Blue Devils are a very talented bunch and there’s little shame in that performance, especially when the Spartans boast wins over Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and others. Fresh off grabbing a 2-0 start to Big Ten play, the Spartans had a somewhat easier road this week.
Tuesday’s game was over quickly, with the Spartans building a huge halftime lead in a 92-69 win over Toledo. Jaxon Kohler led the charge with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Jeremy Fears Jr. added 15 points and 8 assists. The final result was much closer than some expected, but Michigan State still took care of business on Saturday, winning 79-70 over Oakland. Coen Carr stood out with 22 points while Kohler added another double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Michigan State is not sneaking up on people like they might’ve with that Big Ten title last season. This is a talented lineup that can win ballgames in a number of ways, even when shorthanded or dealing with shooting woes. After this brilliant start, the Spartans have earned something of a rest and won’t be back on the court until December 29th against Cornell, though a very important conference battle with Nebraska looms just after the New Year.