Michigan State is still alive for a share of the Big Ten regular season championship, their resume is probably the best it's looked in a while and the team is back in the receiving votes category of the AP Poll this week.

But all of that doesn't matter to Tom Izzo. As he has said countless times this season, he's focused on his team performing to the best of their abilities.

"Today is gonna have to be a big practice" Izzo said. "Everyone's probably acting like we've accomplished this, this and this. Well we haven't accomplished anything because that's the way it is"

No more home cooking, no more friendly confines (neutral at best in Big Ten Tournament maybe) and with only two games left in the regular season the Spartans sit in a good spot for an NCAA tournament bid. Most expert bracket predictions have the Spartans around the 8-9 line. Well above the first four and possibly even missing the tournament.

Michigan State travels to Illinois on Wednesday and finishes its regular season schedule against Maryland on Saturday. If they win out not only will they clinch a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament but they would also have a chance at a share of the Big Ten regular season title, if they got some help at the top.

Michigan State basketball has won four of it's past five games and for the first time since the calendar turned to 2017 the Spartans are in the "receiving votes" category in the latest AP Poll.

So everything is looking up for Izzo and company heading into a winnable game against Illinois on the road right?

"Concerned, yes. I'm more concerned about how we're playing, we've got to keep getting better" Izzo said when previewing Illinois at his weekly availability on Monday.

To Izzo's credit he "was sad that day's like yesterday don't last" referencing Senior day and the memories made on that court, most notably the injured Eron Harris getting a chance to kiss the Spartan logo mid-game, but he knows the job is not yet done. It might look good for a 20th consecutive NCAA Tournement berth for MSU, but there's still work to be done.

Michigan State heads to Champaign to take on the Fighting Illini on Wednesday in their penultimate regular season game. you can catch all the action on your home for Spartan Basketball, Classic Rock 94.9 WMMQ and Lansing's Big Talker 1240 WJIM.

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