Tom Izzo acknowledges, values, and welcomes lofty expectations. And becoming No. 1 signifies that the team has gained the consensus of being the at the top, demanding from voters the uppermost praise.
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Some resent a regular season No. 1 ranking, fearing it evokes every opponent’s strongest effort. But this gives the team a chance to beat opponents at their best. And akin to Izzo’s philosophy of facing elite opponents in preconference play, the more motivated opponents will be better prepares the Spartans for the NCAA Tournament.