Michigan State Plans Spoiler Role After Big Ten Title Under Tom Izzo

Michigan State's head coach Tom Izzo is optimistic about the Spartans' roster and team progress despite preseason skepticism. The Spartans, reigning Big Ten champions, were projected to finish sixth in the conference media poll and ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25, which Izzo and his players find perplexing given their strong returners and previous success. Izzo highlighted the uncertainty in the Big Ten due to many teams undergoing significant roster changes, making preseason rankings unreliable. Freshmen Jordan Scott and Cam Ward have exceeded expectations in their development, contributing positively to the squad. The Spartans aim to prove doubters wrong by building on last season's momentum, where they won the Big Ten by a wide margin and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. Izzo remains motivated to challenge the media projections and believes his team can make a deep run in the upcoming season.