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. So when Izzo butchered the names of Kasparas Jakucionis,

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.

No. 12 Michigan State got the test that many were waiting for when it hosted No. 19 Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans passed the

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.

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo thinks Illinois is one of the best teams in the country, and the best in the Big Ten. That statement takes on new meaning, considering the Spartans defeated Illinois on Sunday.

Izzo is taking the threat of the Illini seriously as he prepares his Spartans for Sunday's matchup in East Lansing

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.