Sam Tyler breaks down why this Michigan State men's basketball team has the opportunity to return Spartan basketball to the winning ways MSU fans have come to expect. An optimistic view, if you're into that sorta thing:

From time to time, I feel the need to go into pep talk / Prof. Green and White lecture mode. Today is one of those times.

While I was disappointed by the outcome on Saturday, I was not surprised. I was concerned all week that Indiana is better than most people realize, and I was concerned that they were a very bad match-up for Michigan State. My intuition turned out to be correct. Getting blown out is never fun, but getting blown out by a top-10 team in rebuilding year is understandable.

Following the game, my honest reaction was an internal shrug and the though that the team had an extra week to rest and prepare for the home stretch. I was honestly shocked to see home utterly freaked out some fans were online following the game.

The frustration from Spartan fans likely comes from three different sources.

First, the Spartans were blown out by an average of 30 points by Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. As it turns out, there are four really good teams in the Big Ten this year, and Michigan State drew three of them. That is just crappy luck.

While the margins of defeat are ugly, the Spartans played competitive football in three of the eight quarters of the games against Indiana and Ohio State. Four of those quarters were played on the west coast by a tired and jetlagged team. This tells me that the potential is there, but the effort and execution are not consistent... yet.

Second, the Spartans let two very winnable games slip through their finger at Boston College and Michigan. While this is frustrating, both of these factors are simply the hallmarks of a team that is rebuilding and not of structural failure. Beside, if Michigan State was currently sitting at 5-4 or 6-3, the fact is the Green and White would be significantly ahead of schedule.

Third, I think a lot of fans are upset by the fast rise of Indiana. In the preseason, the Hoosiers were picked by many as the weakest team in the conference. Yet, a new coach, a bevy of transfers, and the easiest schedule in the conference suddenly has the Hoosiers knocking on the door of the College Football Playoffs.

This fact is certainly frustrating, it is also exceedingly rare. I will also point out that it is not so different than the season that the Spartans had in 2021 under Mel Tucker. The fact that a traditional Big Ten doormat is having their best season in generations has no bearing on the trajectory of the program in East Lansing. It might feel like it, but it doesn't.

So my message to Spartan Nation this week is pretty simple: chill the F out.

Trust me. I'm a doctor.

Enjoy this week's edition of Against All Odds.