To be fair to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, there aren't as many Alan Andersons and Shannon Browns across college basketball as there once were.

Despite the Michigan State basketball team winning 12 straight games, Tom Izzo shares why he is "disappointed" with the team.

Tom Izzo managed to beat his old friend Brad Underwood on Sunday as Michigan State basketball held on to beat Illinois at home. It was a tough, grind-it-out win over Illinois as the Spartans struggled to hit shots, but they did outperform Illinois at the free throw line and that was ultimately the difference.

No. 8 Michigan State is in the midst of a bit of a break before it returns to the hardwood to take on Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.While the Scarlet Knights are just 3-5 in conference play,

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.

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

Izzo is taking the threat of the Illini seriously as he prepares his Spartans for Sunday's matchup in East Lansing

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

Tom Izzo sees No. 12 Michigan State basketball getting tougher after beating No. 20 Illinois on Sunday, but also knows so will the Spartans' schedule.

Michigan State sophomore forward Coen Carr has taken a tremendous "leap" this season, and that was as evident as ever in the No. 8 Spartans' win over Rutgers on Saturday.