Michigan State Basketball: 10 Telltale Games for the Spartans in 2011-2012

The Big Ten basketball schedule is here, and the Michigan State Spartans are ready to assert themselves as one of the powerhouse teams in the conference.

Tom Izzo has fielded a talented group this season. They're one of the best rebounding teams in the country, and they spread the ball around well on the offensive end. Also, they have a great leader and star in Draymond Green, who has risen to the occasion so far.

How do we know whether this East Lansing club has a championship run in its future? A handful of key games against Big Ten adversaries will reveal the true colors of this year's Spartan squad.

Let's take a look at 10 telltale games for the Spartans down the stretch.

Dec. 28 vs. Indiana

Tom Crean has been doing a lot of applauding so far while directing his Hoosiers to an undefeated start. Michigan State hosts Crean's Indiana squad to start the Big Ten season, so Tom Izzo will have his hands full with the Bloomington boys.

The Hoosiers are shooting the ball extremely well, beginning with forward Cody Zeller (66 percent from the field) and three-point sharpshooter Jordan Hulls (56 percent from distance).

But it doesn't stop there. The Hoosiers have six legitimate long-range threats, so this game will be an indication of how well the Spartans rotate defensively.

Jan. 3 at Wisconsin

A trip to Madison next week will test the Spartans' mettle. It's a tall task for any team to go into the Kohl Center and succeed, so Michigan State will have to be sharp if they want to come away with a win.

This will be a grind-it-out game, so the most focused, disciplined team will win.

Execution on offense will be critical. We'll see how Draymond Green leads the Spartans' attack against a stingy Badger defense. Wisconsin is giving up a mere 44.7 points per game, so every possession is paramount.

On the other end of the floor, Michigan State will try to limit Jordan Taylor's effectiveness, as he's the main ingredient in Wisconsin's offense.

Jan. 17 at Michigan

The Spartans can't get caught up in Final Four talk when there's business to take care of in their home state. A mid-January trip to Ann Arbor will reveal which Michigan team is more qualified to contend for the title.

Halting the Wolverines means containing Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke. Hardaway grabs most of the headlines, but Burke is no joke, averaging 13 points and five assists per contest.

Branden Dawson, Adreian Payne and Draymond Green should be able to out-rebound their Michigan foes, but it's up to the whole team to make sure those rebounds count.

Jan. 25 vs. Minnesota

This clash against the Minnesota Golden Gophers will be a test of how Michigan State handles a well-balanced offensive attack.

The Golden Gophers share the ball quite a bit, sometimes to a fault. But they can get a decent amount of scoring from any one of eight players.

Minnesota is a team that can wheel and deal, but also buckle down and play at a slower tempo.

We'll see whether Izzo's boys can impose their will and dictate the complexion of the game, a home game that they should win.

Jan. 31 at Illinois

Bruce Weber's Fighting Illini are another solid Big Ten squad, and closing out January with a win in Champaign will be no cakewalk for Michigan State.

Can Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne play effectively on both ends against Illinois tower Meyers Leonard? Can the defense handle dynamic playmakers D.J. Richardson, Brandon Paul and Sam Maniscalo?

I think they can, but I'll be looking for the manner in which the Spartans play rather than the end result. An impressive road showing against Illinois will bode well for the future.

Feb. 11 at Ohio State

Ohio State is the class of the Big Ten, so a clash in Columbus will be Sparty's biggest test yet.

Dealing with Jared Sullinger will be a headache, but running the offense against the Buckeyes will be tricky, too. Keith Appling, Austin Thornton and Travis Trice will have to be sharp. If the Spartan guards can run things smoothly against an elite defense, it will give the team an infinitely better chance at pulling the upset.

More importantly, it would mean things are looking good for tournament play.

Feb. 16 vs. Wisconsin

After their trip to Ohio State, the Spartans get to come home for a rematch with Bo Ryan's Badgers.

Wisconsin will try to make this an ugly one and take the Izzone faithful out of the game early. Draymond Green and Jordan Taylor are the two best players in this matchup, and whoever shines the brightest will give his team an edge to win.

At this point in the season, both teams will be well-oiled machines. The winner will simply be the team that has more juice and wants it more.

Feb. 19 at Purdue

Michigan State has a better team than Purdue this year, but the Spartans had better not sleep on the Boilermakers or else they're in for a late-season letdown.

Robbie Hummel is averaging 18 points and six boards per game and Purdue takes good care of the ball (just 10 turnovers per game). The Boilermakers' only losses so far were close losses against solid programs. Also, Purdue will be coming off a tough battle against Illinois.

In other words, the Boilermakers aren't going to hand Green and company the win.

Feb. 28 at Indiana

We've already seen the damage Indiana can do at home. The Hoosiers' thrilling upset of Kentucky launched them back into the college basketball conversation and showed that Indiana basketball has returned.

A triumph in Bloomington would be a quality win for Michigan State.

It will be more important than ever to focus in all facets of the game. Will it be a Sparty Party for Izzo's crew, or a Victor Oladipo dunkfest and three-point binge from Indiana?

Check back in a couple of months.

Mar. 4 vs. Ohio State

Michigan State closes out its season against the mighty Buckeyes. This rematch will be the final litmus test for the Spartans.

It will only be Ohio State's second game in a two-week span, so Michigan State must get out of the starting gate with gusto. It will keep the crowd involved and hopefully slow down Thad Matta's squad. If the Buckeye's do fall into a couple lulls, the Spartans must capitalize on the opportunity.

Who knows, depending on what happens during the season, this March 4th tilt might decide the Big Ten regular season title.