This is typically the time of year Tom Izzo begins to figure out Michigan State basketball’s rotation.
Even though his gift this holiday season is depth that has allowed the fourth-ranked Spartans to use his starters and bench players for extended time, Izzo knows time will be tighter as Big Ten play begins.
“Right now, there's a lot of people that would like to have 11 players that they're playing or 10,” Izzo said Friday. “And I'm going to try to enjoy that a little bit, even though it's a headache in some ways.”
The three-time defending Big Ten regular-season champions open conference play Sunday night at Northwestern (7 p.