Iowa upends No. 1 Michigan State 83-70

Many from outside the Big Ten are looking at the conference as the “Three-Headed Monster”, with Michigan State, Purdue and Maryland.

Iowa forward Jarrod Uthoff, left, fights for a rebound with Michigan State forward Marvin Clark Jr.

A winter storm heading towards East Lansing forced Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to cancel his weekly press conference and get his team headed to Iowa City ahead of schedule. Iowa State, only to squander it in the second stanza and lose in the late seconds.

The Wolverines have their issues to sort out in Big Ten play, namely defense and rebounding, but they can sure shoot, making a program-record 17 3-pointers in their nonconference finale.

Peter Jok had 19 points for the Hawkeyes (10-3), who toppled a No. 1 team for the first time in 16 years. Eron Harris also contributed 27 points.

Michigan State has been its usual gritty self, overcoming 13-point deficits to beat both Kansas and Louisville, and coming back from 15 down against Oakland last week in its first game without injured star Denzel Valentine. But after falling behind by 11 in the second half, the Badgers rallied for an 80-69 overtime victory over the Spartans, claiming the school’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

From the opening tip, it was easy to see why. Matt Costello (7.6 points, 6.4 rebounds), a 6-9 forward who posted his second double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-high tying 11 boards, is the only starter taller than 6-5, although the team gets plenty of help from 6-10 freshman Deyonta Davis and 6-9 Gavin Schilling off the bench. If the Spartans are hoping to avoid the upset, getting out to defend the Hawkeye shooters will be a major key.

“Everybody is wringing their hands about them, but I certainly think IN is capable”, Bonner said.

“We’re gonna shoot it when we’re open”, Beilein said. “We’ve beaten them good the last few times”.

“I don’t know who we are yet, because it’s the Big Ten season”.

The Hawkeyes have been a very lethal team from behind the 3-point line thus far on the season. ‘Don’t honor him with a win.

The last spots will depend mostly on what happens over the next two months. Playing for their head coach, Michigan State might get an extra push from some motivation to win for their heartbroken leader.

Fran McCaffery’s squad will be back on the court on Saturday when they face another ranked team, No. 14 Purdue.