Michigan State men's basketball has begun its 2024 - 25 season on a firm footing. However, some perceive the nine - day break as an annoyance, a disruption to the team's forward momentum. The Spartans have achieved consecutive victories, including an upset over then - No. 12 North Carolina in the Maui Invitational and two dominant wins in their initial conference games. After finally attaining a ranking after over a year, they were deprived of the opportunity to defend it on the court.

Coach Izzo's Perspective

Spartans coach Tom Izzo is unwavering in his stance against excuses. When addressing the media on Friday, he stated, "There are always concerns. We've played well in three consecutive games, but that's when you desire to play more games in a row. Yet, during a break, it becomes easy to use an excuse. I tell my players that we simply can't have any excuses this year. We must focus on getting better in practice each day and not worry about whether it's a three - game or a five - game stretch." Izzo further emphasized, "Looking at the season, there will be numerous strange aspects with the new league, including our travel and various events. We need to be prepared to play every time we get the chance."

Benefits of the Break

This break could potentially be advantageous. Having nearly completed the first third of their regular season, the Spartans will need to be primed to transition seamlessly from one challenge to another when Big Ten play resumes in January. Izzo expressed, "I hope we reach a point where people don't get burned out due to a bit of stress. This is what the season is all about. Maintaining peak performance through 31 games is challenging. The season is long, and we've faced some tough opponents. Even some of our non - conference games, like the one against Samford, were demanding. This break has provided valuable prep time. Additionally, if any player is a bit fatigued due to finals or other reasons, we have a healthy roster with no injuries. The players have enjoyed playing together, and we feel generally fresher, which will aid us in the latter part of the season."

Upcoming Game and Community Engagement

Michigan State's encounter with Oakland at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday is scheduled for 7 p.m. Don't forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook at Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE and become a part of our lively community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.