Top 25 roundup: No. 1 Michigan State off to 10-0 start

No. 2 Alabama will play No. 3 Michigan State at the Cotton Bowl in the nightcap of the December 31 doubleheader. The game will be played on the base at Pearl Harbor.

Alvin Ellis III had 8 points in 9 minutes off the bench, a new season high as he is lobbying for more consistent minutes. Michigan State’s Marvin Clark scored seven of his nine points after halftime, looking as if he is returning to form after missing the start of the season with an injured left foot.

The first time Michigan State reached No. 1 was in 1978-79 when the Spartans were led by a revolutionary point guard named Earvin “Magic” Johnson. “They go to their bench and nothing changes”. As Kenny Goins and Deyonta Davis have continued to improve and prove themselves, Colby Wollenman’s spot in the rotation has started diminishing. We got the game and the clock.

MSU hosts Maryland Eastern Shore in a third-straight home game for the Spartans. The Spartans are assisting on 78.7 percent of their baskets to lead the nation, and Denzel Valentine is averaging 7.9 assists to rank fourth in the country. They’d struggled at times throughout the year that have cost them big at key moments (like with their penalties last night), but behind fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook, who for a bit seemed lost during the championship game, the Spartans seemingly find a way to make their way to victory (along with some undeniable luck and good fortune, as well). He does so much for his team.

The win tonight puts this year’s team in a position to have the second-best start in program history if they can defeat the Florida Gators on Saturday.

Butler and Utah each have a loss to Miami. Coach Izzo expects an “electric crowd, with the place rocking” as the 1999-2000 National Championship team will be in attendance as a reunion celebration.

Michigan State: The unselfish Spartans spread the ball around a lot to get many players shots.