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Michigan State Basketball: 5 holiday wish list items for 2019

By Connor Muldowney

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on from the bench against the Virginia Cavaliers during the regional semifinal of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on from the bench against the Virginia Cavaliers during the regional semifinal of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans holds the Big Ten trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans holds the Big Ten trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Win both the Big Ten regular season, tourney titles

Who wouldn’t want this to be the wish list for 2019? Michigan State was able to win the 2017-18 Big Ten regular season title, upending teams like Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan which were all red-hot last year.

Michigan State had arguably the most talented team in the Tom Izzo era a season ago and it still wasn’t able to bring home a Big Ten Tournament title, losing to Michigan right before the finals. The Wolverines got the better of the Spartans twice last season and have won three in a row against Michigan State.

This year’s team seems poised to avenge those losses, but more so repeat as regular season Big Ten champs and work toward that double-bye and road to the conference tourney title game. A championship contest against Michigan would be great for everyone.

Winning both the regular season and tournament titles in conference play isn’t easy and Tom Izzo has only done it a few times in his tenure in East Lansing. The last times back in 2011-12 but the Spartans were only able to make it to the Sweet 16, finishing with a 29-8 overall record.

Could things be different this season? It’s possible, but that’s why it’s on the wish list and not a guarantee.

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