Tom Izzo managed to beat his old friend Brad Underwood on Sunday as Michigan State basketball held on to beat Illinois at home. It was a tough, grind-it-out win over Illinois as the Spartans struggled to hit shots, but they did outperform Illinois at the free throw line and that was ultimately the difference.

As long as Tom Izzo is the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, they’re not a team that should be overlooked.

This is the Spartans’ first loss outside of Quad 1, but they also have just two wins over teams that would be safely in the field today.

Tom Izzo sees No. 12 Michigan State basketball getting tougher after beating No. 20 Illinois on Sunday, but also knows so will the Spartans' schedule.

To be fair to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, there aren't as many Alan Andersons and Shannon Browns across college basketball as there once were.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo gives his analysis of the Spartans' 73-51 home win over Minnesota on Tuesday, the first regular-season sweep of a Big Ten opponent this year.

Tom Izzo is just two wins shy of passing Bob Knight for the most in Big Ten history. That record should fall soon but only after a less-heralded mark was checked off in No. 7 Michigan State’s 73-51 win against Minnesota on Tuesday night.