Michigan State basketball jumps back into top-10 after dominant week

Michigan State basketball had quite the week.

The Spartans capped off a three-game home stand with a blowout win over Indiana earlier in the week, and then they cruised to an easy win over Washington in Seattle on Saturday night.

Two wins by an average of 19 points in the Big Ten is quite impressive, especially when you consider that Indiana is a top-half of the conference team, and Washington was supposed to be up there before the season started, too, but bad injury luck cost them a star transfer from USC.

Michigan State is now 16-2 on the season and 6-1 in conference play.

Previously, Tom Izzo’s squad was ranked No. 12 in the AP Top 25, but the rankings were updated on Monday afternoon, and the Spartans have snuck their way back into the top 10.

The only losses Michigan State has this season are two the nation’s No. 5 team (Duke) by six and the No. 7 team (Nebraska) on the road by two points.

Michigan State is behind Michigan (3), Purdue (4), and Nebraska (7) as the ranked teams from the Big Ten, which is the most represented conference in the top 10. Illinois is also right behind Michigan State at No. 11. This might be the most top-heavy Big Ten in a while.

Recapping the dominant week that Michigan State had

The week started with Michigan State looking to gain some confidence back after a sloppy 10-point win over Northwestern just days before, and Indiana was coming to town after nearly pulling off an upset of Nebraska, but it blew a double-digit second half lead at home.

Indiana gave Michigan State all it could handle for about 28 minutes, but the Spartans shut the door late, going on a 19-0 run after things were knotted up at 53-53 in the second half.

After beating Indiana by 21, the Spartans kicked off their quick West Coast road trip with a blowout win over Washington, 80-63. That was one of the most stress-free Big Ten road wins in a while as the Spartans essentially led from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

Two blowout wins in the Big Ten — one on the road — was enough to jump the Spartans two spots.

Michigan State will be at Oregon on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET and then the Spartans will host Maryland — one of the Big Ten’s worst teams at 1-6 — on Saturday at noon.

I’d be shocked if MSU isn’t 18-2 by the end of the week, and rising even further in the top 10.