ESPN College GameDay crew champions Michigan State as most dangerous team in Big Ten

Hype is beginning to build surrounding Michigan State after the Spartans defeated the Michigan Wolverines by 13 on Friday evening in Ann Arbor.

During Saturday’s edition of ESPN’s College GameDay, the crew championed Tom Izzo’s team for their play, believing they’re the team to beat inside the competitive Big Ten. According to Andraya Carter, it’s all in the work and the fundamentals for Michigan State.

“We would start with Michigan State,” Carter said, regarding the top teams in the Big Ten. “… It’s not the flashy plays. They got three offensive rebounds in the stretch of a minute and a half to seal the game. For me, it’s the hard-nosed, tough way that they play. That makes them so difficult to face in March.”

In agreement was Jay Williams, who highlighted the Spartans’ intensity on both sides of the floor: “They struggle to shoot from the three-point line, but their offense is still one of the most efficient offices in the country because they get out of transition,” he responded.

“When you lead the Big Ten in rebounds and free throws attempt, and then you shoot 80% from the free-throw line? That’s how they close out games. They beat you with the same intensity on the defensive end, as well.”

All told, fellow analyst Jay Bilas is a bit surprised where Michigan State is, considering where they started the season, but he believes the Spartans are proving time and time again why they’re one of the top teams to reckon with, and that the sky is the limit in 2025.

“I think they’ve proven over the course of the season that they’re the toughest team,” Bilas said, regarding Michigan State’s competitors in the Big Ten. “One of the things that I’ve respected most about the way the season’s been handled by both the players and the coaching staff is early on in the season, I didn’t think they were going to be this good, honestly, because they don’t shoot it — I think they have good shooters. Like, they make shots in practice. All these guys have made shots throughout the course of their career, but they haven’t been making shots this year from the perimeter.

“This year, they’re getting the foul line, and that’s a departure. This year, they’ve adjusted, and they’re getting the ball into the paint. They’re getting into traffic, and they’re finishing plays through contact. They’re getting to the line, and that’s been a big difference in this year’s team.”

The schedule won’t lighten up for Michigan State following its win over the Wolverines, no matter how much love they receive. On Wednesday, the Spartans will head to College Park to face the 21-6 Maryland Terrapins, followed by a showdown with the 21-5 Wisconsin Badgers next Sunday.

Moving forward, it’s evident the ESPN College GameDay crew believes Michigan State is primed for a run. With a win over rival Michigan on their resume now, the Spartans will hope to continue adding to their impressive list of accomplishments in the next few weeks, as the NCAA Tournament looms large.