For the fourth time in four Big Ten games, Michigan State basketball won comfortably and improved its record on the season thanks to some dominant play from start to finish on both ends of the floor.
This Michigan State team has been much better than the previous squads and fans are beginning to wonder why that is. Experts have talked about how this team has been so effective and looked like a classic Tom Izzo-coached team compared to the previous 3-4 seasons.
One analyst and college hoops expert voiced his opinion and he knows more than most because he actually has played against Izzo-coached teams.
Former Purdue star Robbie Hummel spoke on the Big Ten Network following the 88-54 win over Washington about what sets this team apart from the previous years of "disappointing" play in East Lansing. And he talked about the program getting back to the basics.
Preach @RobbieHummel pic.twitter.com/y73g7MSJTe
— Carter Elliott (@CarterElliott__) January 10, 2025
Hummel spoke about defending, rebounding, and running. He said that his least favorite weeks were the ones in which he had to prepare for Michigan State. He said that this team resembles those squads and that's why this Michigan State team is so hard to beat.
The former Boilermaker also made an interesting statement when he said that this team wasn't getting out and running effectively with AJ Hoggard at the point but it fares much better with Jeremy Fears doing just that. He thinks that Fears fits this offense much better than Hoggard did and that's why the Spartans are burying teams so quickly.
Hummel is right. This team is much more like the vintage punch-you-in-the-mouth Izzo teams of the past which would beat you by rebounding at an elite level, passing, and running the floor after both makes and misses.