Michigan State Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo and guard Cassius Winston speak to the media on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in East Lansing. Wochit
Michigan State basketball's quest for a third straight regular-season Big Ten title is out of Tom Izzo's hands, and the hope is faint to make up two games on Maryland in the final four. Even though his team is one of five tied for second going into Tuesday's action.
Still, the Spartans (18-9, 10-6 Big Ten entering Tuesday's home game vs. Iowa) are all but assured to make Izzo's 24th straight NCAA tournament appearance, their 23 in a row the nation's third-longest behind Kansas (30) and Duke (24) going into this season.