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Michigan State basketball jumps into AP Top 25 after impressive Battle 4 Atlantis showing

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 17: Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans brings the ball up court during the game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 17, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 17: Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans brings the ball up court during the game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 17, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Battle 4 Atlantis was the perfect opportunity for Michigan State basketball to prove itself after starting the season unranked and losing the opener in the Champions Classic to Kansas by 13 points.

Michigan State would likely have to see a couple of ranked squads if it wanted to make a run at the tournament title, and it did just that.

After beating a solid Loyola Chicago team in the opening-round game, Michigan State faced a tough UConn team that was ranked No. 22. The Spartans found a way to win against the Huskies despite being down seven with under five minutes left and they ran out of gas in the second half of the tournament title game against No. 6 Baylor.

Michigan State held its own against Baylor for 20 minutes before some self-inflicted wounds in the second half. The Spartans were up 36-31 at one point, but Baylor flexed its muscle and athleticism, running away with a double-digit win.

Going 2-1 in Atlantis was enough to impress AP voters, however. The Spartans came in at No. 22 in Monday’s AP Top 25, their first appearance this season.

Where does Michigan State basketball stand in the Big Ten?

While there have been no conference games played yet, the Spartans are still looking like one of the best Big Ten teams this season.

Purdue is clearly the best team with squads like Ohio State, Illinois, Maryland, and Michigan still finding themselves. The Buckeyes, Fighting Illini, Terrapins, and Wolverines have all struggled so far this season and Michigan State actually jumped Michigan (No. 24) in this week’s rankings.

So where is MSU in terms of Big Ten teams in the latest rankings?

  • Purdue (No. 2)
  • Michigan State (No. 22)
  • Wisconsin (No. 23)
  • Michigan (No. 24)
  • Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa all receiving votes

Who would have thought that a few weeks into the 2021-22 season that a preseason unranked Michigan State team would be the second-highest ranked Big Ten team?

Tom Izzo loves the role of underdog.

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