Michigan State basketball ranked in perfect spot in most important AP Poll of year

The most important AP Top 25 of the season is here, and Michigan State basketball is ranked in the perfect spot.

OK, is there really any “perfect” spot in the AP Poll at this point in the season? It’s only December, so the AP Top 25 doesn’t mean a whole lot, but it’s at least a good indicator of who might be contenders and who was over-hyped to begin the season.

So far, we’ve seen that teams like Arizona, Michigan, and Iowa State were vastly underrated to begin the season, but the same could be said for Michigan State. The Spartans may not be in the top four like the other teams mentioned, but they were on the verge of a top-five ranking with a win over Duke on Saturday, but they fell just short.

Michigan State went from No. 7 to No. 9 in the newest AP rankings on Monday afternoon and, believe it or not, the Spartans are in a perfect spot at the right time.

Don’t believe me? Well, every single national champion since 2003-04 was ranked in the top 12 of the Week 6 AP Top 25. If you go by that logic, Michigan State is one of 12 teams right now that could win the 2026 National Championship.

Other teams who could win it all: Duke, UConn, Purdue, Gonzaga, Louisville, Houston, BYU, and Alabama. This isn’t a lock, but if it’s happened every year for the past 20-plus seasons, you’d have to think this trend holds some merit.

Here’s where Michigan State has been ranked, and its record, in the Week 6 AP Top 25 every year its made a Final Four under Tom Izzo during that span:

• 2018-19: 8 (8-2)
• 2014-15: 25 (7-3)
• 2009-10: 12 (8-2)
• 2008-09: 19 (6-2)
• 2004-05: 23 (6-2)

As you can see, the Spartans are on pace.

Michigan State has what it takes to win it all

Saturday’s showdown against Duke in East Lansing felt like a Final Four game. The Spartans and Blue Devils went back-and-forth for 40 minutes, but Duke was able to hold on with some clutch threes down the stretch while Michigan State couldn’t seem to make a layup in the closing minutes.

However, the Spartans do have what it takes to win a national championship.

One key aspect that all national title contenders have is an elite point guard. Michigan State has that. National championship contenders also have toughness, they rebound at a high level, they pass well and aren’t selfish, and they have excellent team chemistry. Michigan State has all of that.

So while the Spartans lost a tough one to Duke that probably should have been a win, they are going to be in the conversation until March — and hopefully into April.