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EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo showed Kasparas Jakučionis his utmost sign of respect.
He wouldn’t even try to pronounce his name. But Michigan State basketball’s Hall of Fame coach had plenty to say about the Illinois star’s game.
“To me, he’s one of the best players I’ve seen,” Izzo said after practice Friday. “I think they’re the best team I’ve seen so far.”
The schedule toughens from here until March for the 12th-ranked Spartan, starting with Sunday’s visit from the freshman phenom and his surging No. 20 Illini. Tipoff is noon at Breslin Center (CBS).
Big Ten-leading MSU (15-2, 6-0) has won 10 straight and 13 of its last 14. Illinois (13-4, 5-2) is the first ranked opponent since the Spartans began their win streak with a 94-91 overtime Maui Invitational win Nov. 27 over then-No. 13 North Carolina, which has since fallen out of the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
Michigan State’s Frankie Fidler, center, looks on from the bench between Coen Carr, left, and assistant coach Thomas Kelley, right, during the second half in the game against Penn State on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
MSU enters Saturday’s games ranked No. 17 in the NCAA’s NET Rankings but with the No. 46 strength of schedule, according to KenPom.com. Illinois is seventh in the NET and 22nd in SOS.
The Illini lost a stunner at home to USC on Jan. 11 with Jakučionis out with an arm injury, and their other Big Ten loss was by four in overtime at Northwestern on Dec. 6. They returned to form Tuesday upon Jakučionis’ return from a two-game absence with a 94-69 dismantling of Indiana in Bloomington.
“They got a couple losses. One of them (Jakučionis) didn’t play,” Izzo said. “They played a couple good teams and had tight games. But that is right now the best team in the league. And that includes us.”
Stopping Jakučionis – pronounced “KAS-per-es/yah-koo-CHOH-nis” – has been a chore for opponents when he is in Illinois’ lineup. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound shooting…
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Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2025-01-19 11:07:00
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