Big Ten basketball heats up as teams battle for top spots

Michigan State went 3-0 in Big Ten play this past week, and with its 58-48 win over Ohio State on Saturday, it moved into a tie for the lead in the conference with three weeks to go.

The Spartans defeated the Michigan Wolverines a week ago Sunday as well as the Penn State Nittany Lions in the midweek before their game with Ohio State. Coach Tom Izzo was very pleased with his team's performance over that stretch.

"It was definitely as grinding a six days as we have had in a while," he said. "We feel fortunate to get out of there, but the road gets no easier this week with Purdue and Wisconsin. We think we're in for a hell of a finish."

The Spartan's game with Ohio State was arguably the most important game of the season for both of the teams involved.

The Buckeyes came in riding a six game win streak and had risen to third in the national polls. They were in strong position to claim a No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament if they could keep winning down the stretch.

The Spartan's came in a game down in the conference standings and needed a victory to claim a share of the lead.

"The win at Ohio State, of course, was a signature win for Michigan State," Izzo said. "I thought that we played a team that really played well defensively. They turned us over a lot, but what it came down to, they just missed some shots."

Ohio State coach Thad Matta blamed his team's loss on a combination of poor shooting and strong defense from the Spartans.

"We had some opportunities, and some shots didn't fall," he said. "A couple easy ones maybe, and I think it took a little wind out of our sail there, but it was probably a combination of both.

"I'm giving Michigan State all the credit here. They limited those opportunities. We didn't have a lot of them, and we weren't able to take full advantage."

Izzo was happy with his team's defensive performance as well.

"It was probably one of the best if you look at it going in with a game plan and coming out, but I think it was aided by the fact that they missed some shots. It made it so that we were able to dig down on (Jared) Sullinger," he said. "He still had a big game, but we were able to get in there."

Michigan State's development on defense this season has come at the right time. They seem to be peaking as of late, and are not giving up baskets as easily as they had in the beginnings of conference play.

"It all starts at the point," Izzo said. "Keith (Appling) has done a very good job, and it's been a little surprising that we have been very solid inside with both our bigs, (Derrick) Nix and (Adreian) Payne. The X-factors have been (Branden) Dawson, (Brandon) Wood and (Austin) Thornton, guys like that. Two of them weren't good defenders at all and they just became it.

"We are getting to be a ball-hawking, more aggressive team, and I think a lot of that is my fault. We are trying to get back to that."

The Spartans are hoping that their rise to the top of the league leads to more success in coming weeks.

"It's important, but what you do in one game doesn't always translate to the next game, you know," Izzo said. "It works the other way too. Sometimes you think you've accomplished something, and guys get a little fat and sassy."

lannyholstein@dailynebraskan.com