Michigan State began its Big Ten opener Sunday night with a handful of defensive gaffes and ended it with a bench full of starters staring blankly into the distance.
What had transpired in the 40 minutes of basketball between the sloppy start and the dumbfounded conclusion was difficult for most to describe as Northwestern cruised to a 79-65 victory, its first over a top-five team since 1979. That win happened to come against No. 4-ranked Michigan State, as well.
Tom Izzo opened his postgame conference with the media saying he was “disappointed” and then admitting he was “confused” by what he’d just seen take place at a mostly empty Welsh-Ryan Arena.