EAST LANSING -- Michigan State has faced Michigan plenty of times in recent years when the game held serious Big Ten title implications for at least one of the rivals, if not both.
In 2017, that won't be the case. The Spartans and Wolverines will both come into their Sunday afternoon matchup at Breslin Center at .500 or worse in the conference standings. Michigan State will do so after having lost three in a row.
In Tom Izzo's eyes, though, that fact doesn't make the rivalry any lesser. With both teams facing uncertain NCAA Tournament futures, the 21st-year Michigan State coach thinks the importance of this year's rivalry is amplified.