East Lansing has witnessed a remarkable transformation in Michigan State basketball over the past year. The Spartans entered last December's finals week with a 4-5 record and consecutive losses to start Big Ten play. However, they quickly rebounded with a blowout win over top-10 Baylor in Detroit and went on to win five straight. This year, coach Tom Izzo faces the challenge of sustaining this momentum through a 10-day layoff before facing the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday.

Advantages and Growth

Izzo emphasized that the team has been practicing like they play and vice versa. In their recent conference victories, the Spartans (8-2, 2-0 Big Ten) averaged 91 points while allowing 71.7 points. They showed significant improvement on the defensive end, with senior guard Jaden Akins noting their increased connectivity. The team also dominated on the boards, outrebounding opponents 38.3 to 23.7 and holding them to 42.9% shooting overall and 32.9% from 3-point range. Freshman Jase Richardson highlighted the team's better shooting and improved communication on both offense and defense.

Improved Ball Movement and Tempo

Izzo attributed the success to improved ball movement and an accelerated tempo in transition. The Spartans scored 65 points on the fastbreak and 109 points in the paint. Each of the 10-deep rotation contributed in the three games, with Tre Holloman's 19 points against UNC and Akins' 18 against Nebraska being the high-scoring marks. This collective effort led to a dominant performance and a top-25 ranking for the first time this season.

Dealing with the Layoff

Izzo expressed some concern about players getting stale during the 10-day break between the win over Nebraska and Tuesday's game. The Golden Grizzlies also have a similar break after their loss. Izzo reminded his team not to make excuses and to keep practicing and getting better every day. He emphasized the unpredictability of the season with the expanded 18-team Big Ten and the various travel and game situations.

History and Expectations

Michigan State has never lost to Oakland in 22 meetings since the Golden Grizzlies moved to Division I in 1998. They last won at Little Caesars Arena with a 90-78 victory in 2021. The Spartans' last trip to LCA was a 88-64 blowout of Baylor in 2023. Izzo plans to bring officials to practice on Sunday and take the team to the Pistons-Miami Heat game on Monday before Tuesday's matchup. He looks forward to spending time with people who don't get to see the team often and appreciate them.Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.