As long as Tom Izzo is the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, they’re not a team that should be overlooked.

I was really disappointed in that whole area, because this is Rebounding U, right?” Izzo said Sunday. “I mean, Linebacker U at Penn State, this is Rebounding U, and we didn't do a very good job.” All season,

No. 12 Michigan State got the test that many were waiting for when it hosted No. 19 Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans passed the

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo had high praise for the Spartans' next opponent, the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Connor Earegood asks Tom Izzo about rebounding in win over Illinois.

EAST LANSING — Tom Izzo was asked, a little more than two ... midway through the second half and withstood every punch No. 20 Illinois delivered. When things got tight late, Izzo’s veterans ...

The Michigan State guard stood flat-footed while holding the follow through of a snapped right wrist as a high-arching 3-pointer dropped through the net. Just 24 seconds later, he knocked down another in front of the Minnesota bench. Next time down the floor, Holloman pulled from the other side of the arc with the same result.

A transformative week made it clear who are the contenders, which programs will be scary in March and who is trending down.

Few coaches could stick around at one school, especially in this ever-changing college basketball landscape. Michigan State has had the same head coach for thirty years now.

Vlad Goldin scored 31 points in Michigan's 80-76 OT win over Northwestern. Connor Earegood asks Tom Izzo about rebounding in win over Illinois. Watch Next   Connor Earegood asks Adam Nightingale about Minnesota's success.

On Monday, MSU moved up one spot to No. 7 in the AP and USA Today Coaches Poll. College basketball analytics and metrics site KenPom ranks the Spartans No. 15 nationally, behind Big Ten teams Purdue (8), Illinois (10) and Wisconsin (14).