Death. Taxes. Tom Izzo struggling to beat inferior opponents in the month of February.
It's a tale as old as time. Michigan State is hot for most of the season and then hits a speed bump in February, putting Big Ten title aspirations in danger. Good Spartan teams manage to climb their way out of this tough stretch by getting hot to end the regular season but average or decent ones continue to limp toward the finish line.
Jury's still out on this team after dropping a home game to a 14-10 Indiana team that was 5-8 in the Big Ten and had just decided to part ways with Mike Woodson after the season.
And on a night that was supposed to be all about Tom Izzo, it was -- but for all the wrong reasons. He was supposed to break Bob Knight's all-time Big Ten wins record at home against the former team of the record-holder with former players and friends in attendance.
That didn't go as planned.
Izzo's Spartans stumbled to a 71-67 loss which was a result of poor shooting and an inability to figure out a 2-3 zone which has plagued the Hall of Famer throughout his coaching career.
It was his own weakness that led to the most embarrassing loss of the season and a blown opportunity to sit atop the Big Ten standings with Michigan after the Wolverines beat Purdue.
Yes, I think this team will be OK and no I'm not panicking, but I do think the Big Ten title is now in serious danger after losing this one. Hopefully this is a wake-up call.
This was embarrassing for Izzo and Co.