Michigan State basketball is in elite company in terms of Quad 1 wins

Through the first two months of the season and right before a matchup with Cornell to close out non-conference play, Michigan State basketball is 11-1 and ranked No. 9 in the country.

The Spartans also have a 2-0 record in Big Ten play.

Michigan State has just one loss on the year to a No. 4 Duke team at home, but even that was a game that should’ve resulted in a win, but Tom Izzo’s inability to beat the zone hurt the Spartans yet again. He had Duke on the ropes until the final five minutes when the Blue Devils switched to a zone to keep Cameron Boozer from fouling out.

Despite losing to Duke, Michigan State has one of the best resumes in the country, beating Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Iowa who either were or are currently ranked. The Spartans have beaten some really good teams to get to this 11-1 record.

That puts Michigan State in elite company.

Michigan State is one of 8 teams in this elite category

Only eight teams in the country are in this elite category based on their resume.

The Spartans are one of eight teams with at least two Quad 1A wins this season, according to Graham Doreen on X. Only two teams have more than two Quad 1A wins in UConn and Arizona, but Michigan State is right there.

Michigan State, Kansas, Purdue, Alabama, Duke, and Iowa State all have two Quad 1A wins this season which means a home win over a NET top 15 team, a road win over a top 40 team, and a neutral site win over a top 25 team. The Spartans have a home win over No. 12 Iowa and a neutral site win over No. 15 North Carolina. That accounts for the two Quad 1A victories.

The home win over No. 29 Arkansas just misses the cut and neutral-site win over No. 26 Kentucky just miss the cut. If Kentucky moves up one spot, Michigan State, Arizona, and UConn will be one of just three teams in the country with three-plus Quad 1A wins.

Who thought the Spartans would be this good early on?