No. 8 Michigan State rides 11-game win streak into MSG vs. Rutgers

(Photo credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images)
Tom Izzo watched Michigan State gut out an 80-78 win Sunday over then-No. 19 Illinois and declared the Fighting Illini the best team in the Big Ten.

"I'm not slighting us, I'm not slighting Purdue, I'm not slighting Michigan or anyone else," the Spartans' coach said. "I just think that right now, that was a tough team to play."

The fact is, No. 8 Michigan State defeated its toughe