Tom Izzo said No. 12 Michigan State basketball must defend better Sunday against No. 20 Illinois on Sunday despite the Spartans' offensive upturn.

It’s still only mid-January but a Michigan State team that entered the season unranked is atop the expanded Big Ten standings. The Spartans are getting it done with depth and will have a shot to make it a dozen straight wins when they play Rutgers (10-8, 3-4) on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo had high praise for the Spartans' next opponent, the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The 14th-ranked Spartans (13-2 ... for their third road game of the conference season. NUMBERS GAME:Tom Izzo reveals Michigan State basketball's battle cry that sure is working Tipoff at Welsh ...

EAST LANSING, Mich. No. 12 Michigan State extended its perfect Big Ten record to 5-0 on Sunday when it bested Northwestern, 78-68, on the road. The Spartans hel

Now in his 30th season leading Michigan State, Izzo has gone against the grain plenty of times and sees a kindred spirit in Dan Campbell. The fourth-year coach of the Lions is as aggressive as they come in keeping the offense on the field on fourth down.

It was a ninth straight win and fifth in a row to open Big Ten play as No. 14 Michigan State basketball beat Northwestern but showed some flaws late.

This has been a season unlike any other for Ryan Day emotionally. Less than two months ago, loud and influential media voices were calling for the firing

Michigan State rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half to pull out an 80-78 win against Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The No. 12 Spartans (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten) edged the No. 19 Fighting Illini (13-5,

Michigan State senior center Carson Cooper led the Spartans in rebounding with eight in their 80-78 win over Illinois on Sunday.