Spartans struggling with Big Ten schedule

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State's Big Ten title hopes took a hit when the Spartans lost to Indiana and Ohio State.

Coach Tom Izzo is taking the defeats almost in stride. Perhaps this late-season slip was simply an inevitable byproduct of playing in the unusually difficult league.

Two weeks ago, Michigan State embarrassed rival Michigan 75-52 in East Lansing. For the Wolverines, that was the end of a stretch in which they faced Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State in succession, going 1-3 in the process.

Now the schedule is being unkind to the Spartans, and it's Michigan State's turn to struggle.