Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, January 29, 2014

A huge win for Michigan State last night at Iowa City. I didn?t think the Spartans could prevail without Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson in that hostile environment vs. that talented Hawkeyes squad.

What?s more, MSU was coming off a tough home loss to Michigan. What would be its mind-set? No worries. The Spartans took care of business in what may be the program?s most impressive league triumph in two seasons. And that?s saying a lot.

What a tough-as-nails Michigan State team this is, a squad that personifies its coach like few others. By the way, this ended Iowa?s 20-game home winning skein and was the Spartans? seventh win in a row vs. Iowa. Check out this video of Tom Izzo talking about the win.

What to make of Iowa? Before playing host to Michigan State last night, Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery said to win the Big Ten, you?ve got to go through Michigan State. Well, that failed-for now.

It was a great chance for Iowa to make a statement. And, it may have needed to win if it wanted to claim the Big Ten. Yes, Iowa is still alive to win the crown. But the Hawkeyes are 5-3 in the Big Ten; Michigan is 7-0; MSU is 8-1. There is work to do for a program that hasn?t won a Big Ten regular-season crown since 1978-79!!! Looking ahead to March and an NCAA seed, Iowa really doesn?t have many impressive wins, with a victory at slumping Ohio State being the best. No shock to see McCaffery talk in the post-game aftermath about the need for his team to have more toughness.

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Big Ten Standings (through 1/28)
Conference Overall
W-L W-L
Michigan 7-0 15-4
Michigan State 8-1 19-2
Iowa 5-3 16-5
Wisconsin 4-3 17-3
Minnesota 4-4 15-6
Ohio State 3-4 16-4
Purdue 3-4 13-7
Indiana 3-4 13-7
Northwestern 3-5 10-11
Nebraska 2-5 10-9
Illinois 2-6 13-8
Penn State 1-6 10-10
View Full Standings

Saw this at NBCSports.com: Michigan?s Nik Stauskas is No. 5 on a Player of the Year Power Poll.

This is amazing, as no one saw this kind of a breakout coming from Stauskas back in October. Purdue coach Matt Painter thinks Stauskas is the best player in the Big Ten. Yes, I think that?s pretty obvious.

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Super Bowl Sunday will have special meaning for Wisconsin fans, with Russell Wilson quarterbacking Seattle and Montee Ball running for Denver. You?ll enjoy this read. It?s difficult to not want to root for each guy on Sunday. Wilson is a personal favorite of mine.

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Ready for the 2014 NBA Draft? Ok, neither am I. Still, here is a mock draft. And, if there?s one thing America likes, it?s mock drafts.

Indiana?s Noah Vonleh is going No. 6 to the Kings; Michigan State?s Gary Harris is No. 8 to the Cavaliers. Poor guys.

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With Philip Nelson gone-likely to Rutgers or Kansas State–Mitch Leidner?s role on the Minnesota football has changed. It looks like his quarterback job to lose.

I think he?ll do just fine. But I wanna see what some of the young signal-callers look like this spring, especially Chris Streveler.

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A stunning report of sorts came out recently when it was reported that Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons was booted from school before the bowl game.

What is odd is the incident that led to this took place in Nov. 2009. It all apparently came to a head this November when Gibbons didn?t play vs. Ohio State for what Brady Hoke called a ?muscle problem.? Gibbons didn?t make the trip to the bowl game, with Hoke saying Gibbons was dealing with a family matter in Florida. Talk amongst yourselves about this.

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TWEETS THAT MATTER

My take: Crazy, isn?t it?

My take: No. A GREAT win.

My take: I am not gonna disagree.

My take: I was amazed, too.

My take: I don?t see this happening.

My take: I guess I am surprised the number is that high.

My take: So impressive.

My take: Gotta hit the freebies.

My take: No way Purdue beats Michigan State. The Boilermakers have struggled since air was pumped into the first basketball this season. Little progress.

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About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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