Michigan State basketball get ‘measuring stick’ test in No. 1 Kansas in Champions Classic

EAST LANSING — Tom Izzo always wants Michigan State basketball to test itself with the best competition on the biggest of stages.

It doesn’t get much more difficult than facing No. 1 Kansas, and few events rival the Champions Classic night the two programs have been a part of since 2011. And Izzo relishes every opportunity he gets not only to feature his program but to find out exactly where the Spartans are in early November.

“I don’t know if we appreciate it, I don’t know if our alums appreciate it, I don’t know if Michigan State University appreciates it,” Izzo said Monday. “It’s a privilege. … There’s a million other programs that would die to do this.”

The Spartans (2-0) and Jayhawks (2-0) tip off at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. It is the first of two games at the annual showcase, with No. 6 Duke and No. 18 Kentucky the late game at 9 p.m. Both will air on ESPN.

“Our guys have done a great job. Really, the last two practices have been as good as we’ve had,” Izzo said. “What does that mean? It means you sleep this much better, but it really has no bearing on the game. You still gotta play the game. And who knows how, when the lights go on, how everybody handles it differently, on their team and mine. But I like where we’re at right now as far as compared to where we’ve been the last month and a half. I think we’re doing the things we need to do.”

Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo calls out to players during the first half against Niagara on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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MSU opened with a pair of fairly easy wins, both of which exposed some flaws exposed and showed some strengths. The Spartans started hot against Monmouth, hit some mid-game doldrums, then eventually pulled away for an 81-57 win in the season-opener last Monday. Then Thursday, shaking off a sluggish start, MSU blitzed…

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Author : Lansing State Journal

Publish date : 2024-11-12 11:21:00

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