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.