In need of a big road win to remain in the Big Ten title chase for a second straight season, Michigan State basketball was unable to overcome a hot-shooting Wisconsin team, 92-71.
This was the most point that the Spartans had given up in Big Ten play and the most since the Cornell win back in December. This was one of the worst defensive performances by a Michigan State team all season and Tom Izzo has to be absolutely disgusted by the effort on Friday night.
Michigan State was unable to overcome 15-for-35 shooting from 3-point range by Wisconsin, and that was what Izzo was most worried about entering the game.
Now, the Spartans can essentially kiss the Big Ten title goodbye after a fourth loss.
It might seem a little dramatic to say that the Big Ten title hopes are officially dead, but losing a game against the sixth-place team by 21 points is not going to do any good. The Spartans were already two games out of first place and 0.5 out of second, which means that they’ll likely have to win out if they want a chance at repeating as Big Ten champs.
I’ll be the first to say that’s likely not going to happen.
Michigan has to lose three more games, Illinois has to lose another game, Nebraska has to lose one more, and Purdue would have to lose the head-to-head in West Lafayette against the Boilermakers.
This is not what Izzo expected would happen after a 19-2 start, but that’s what happens when a team loses focus and loses their identity after 21 games. Michigan State was cruising through the Big Ten before facing Michigan and that was expected to be a wake-up call. Then, losing at Minnesota was going to be the wake-up call. Now? It feels like the team is officially looking ahead to the NCAA Tournament.
The Big Ten title is out of play now and the Spartans just have to focus on earning a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State has to focus on holding onto that 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament projections.
This was a tough loss in Madison.