Michigan State is the perennially successful team for Tom Izzo, and Illinois has not had much luck against them as of late. During the 2017-18 season, the Spartans had an outstanding 30-6 record at the end of the season, going 16-2 in conference play. This was fueled significantly by players like Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year campaign and Miles Bridges’ decision to stay in East Lansing for a second year.
The only losses the Spartans suffered were to No. 1 Duke, Ohio State and Michigan, until losing in the Big Ten tournament to the eventual runners-up Wolverines.