BREAKING: MSU Climbs the Ladder in Latest Polls
Michigan State's dominance in the first two games of conference play paid off last week.
With its wins over Minnesota and Nebraska, the Spartans have been ranked No. 21 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll and have also moved up from No. 24 to No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Both polls were updated on Monday.
Michigan State is ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since Nov. 20, 2023. It comes off an 89-52 victory over Nebraska at home on Saturday, a win that followed the Spartans' 90-72 win over Minnesota last Wednesday to open up Big Ten play.
You can view the latest AP Poll here.
You can view the latest USA Today Coaches Poll here.
Below is a partial transcript from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's opening statement from his postgame press conference that followed the Spartans' win over Nebraska.
Izzo: "Wow, I don't really know what to say. I mean ... I actually feel for Fred [Hoiberg]. I'm not sure we're that good, and I know they haven't struggled like that. They've played really well -- go to Creighton and win on the road was a big win. And this was big prep game for us in two days; I give my staff a lot of credit. And maybe, like you say, the maturity of my team, guys who have been here, been through these kind of games. We talked about Big Ten openers, how important they are on the road. We talked about winning at Minnesota, where everybody thinks one thing, but Minnesota's a tough place to play. And we really put an emphasis on our defense because we felt like we've been doing a very average job defensively, in a way. We had been giving up points. Now, at Minnesota, we gave up 20 points in the last 5 minutes, and the field-goal percentages are not reaching the goals that we have. And so, we put a big emphasis on that. But when you think about Jaxon [Kohler] -- 12 rebounds, seven offensive -- did an unbelievable job and he gets 8 points and felt bad because I told him not until he's a senior, but he wanted a double-double. I make a big deal around here about double-doubles; I tell him about Draymond Green threatening me in my huddles [about] taking him out when he's got 9 points or nine rebounds, and I said I always gave into him because he was bigger, meaner and he was a senior when he was threatening me. And I told Jax, I said -- he begged me -- and I said, 'Jax, you ain't as tough as Draymond, you haven't produced like him yet and you're not a senior.' But I did feel bad for him; I actually like the fact -- and so did the players -- that he was hungry on a goal that he had set. And 30 points off the bench, guys, in nine out of 10 games is almost incredible. Really is a plus -- strength in numbers. +29 on the glass against a team that's big was a big thing."
Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
