Michigan State basketball: The next game is special for multiple reasons

The next Michigan State basketball game is going to be special for multiple reasons — three main reasons, to be exact.

Michigan State basketball is coming off a disappointing loss to Wisconsin on Friday, 81-66. It isn’t the fact that they lost the game, it’s how the Spartans lost. Not many expected MSU to win this game, but I think most expected it to at least be competitive.

Sometimes losses like this can be difficult to overcome. However, Michigan State’s next game makes it a lot easier to overcome for many reasons.

1. Win No. 700 for Tom Izzo

This is something I think all Spartan fans are aware of. Tom Izzo needs just one more win to hit win No. 700 for his career. I know we all wanted to beat Wisconsin, but maybe this milestone happening at home isn’t such a bad thing.

Izzo will be the 38th coach of all time to hit this milestone and the only Big Ten coach to do so at one school. I can only imagine how pumped the Breslin Center crowd will be at the end of the game if this is when Izzo hits No. 700.

2. Izzo’s 69th birthday

Did you know that the Spartans’ game on Tuesday will also be Izzo’s 69th birthday? The night could already turn into a huge celebration if the Spartans win, and Izzo also celebrating his birthday makes it that much better.

You have to go back quite a ways for the last time Michigan State played on Izzo’s birthday. The last time this happened was the 2010-11 season when the Spartans beat Indiana in East Lansing 84-83. Draymond Green hit the game-winning shot with 29 seconds to go to lead MSU to the victory on Izzo’s 55th birthday. Hopefully the Spartans find similar luck on Tuesday, just maybe not in as close of a game.

3. Playing Michigan

Having the first two events take place when MSU plays Michigan is just the icing on the cake. Playing Michigan is always one of the most fun days of the season, but adding Izzo’s birthday and the potential for win No. 700 just makes it all way better.

We all know how bad of a season Michigan is having, so I hope that means they won’t spoil the occasion on Tuesday. Maybe MSU will beat Michigan by a large margin to make this the perfect day.

Michigan State basketball takes on Michigan on Tuesday night in East Lansing at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock. If you’re someone who has resisted the urge to subscribe to Peacock, I highly recommend you do so now.