What’s the toughest Big Ten arena for Izzo-coached teams to play in?

Welcome to MSU Plays At Wisconsin Day. Oh joy.

Let me tell you all, I dread this day. Wisconsin seems like a very hard place to play, which had me thinking...what is the toughest place for Tom Izzo-coached teams to play in?

Obviously Wisconsin’s Kohl Center comes to mind, and Mackey Arena and Assembly Hall give me the willies as well. But let’s use actual stats and break down MSU’s true road games since 1995 — when General Izzo took over in East Lansing.

AT ILLINOIS

Under Izzo: 9-12 (.428)

Last 5 games: 3-2

Streak: L1

If you thought the loss last week was bad, let’s all remember the 42-41 loss in Champaign in 2012. Actually, no. Let’s not remember that.

AT INDIANA

Under Izzo: 7-14 (.333)

Last 5 games: 3-2

Streak: L1

Life was tough early on with Bobby Knight manning the sidelines at Assembly Hall as Izzo started his career going 1-4 in his road games vs. Knight. Fun fact: MSU’s 81-79 overtime loss at Indiana in 2000 was the Spartans last loss that entire season.

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AT IOWA

Under Izzo: 11-9 (.550)

Last 5 games: 4-1

Streak: W2

Since Fran McCaffery has taken over in 2010, Izzo is 5-2 at Carver Hawkeye Area. And that sounds about right.

AT MARYLAND

Under Izzo: 1-2 (.333)

Last 5 games: N/A

Streak: W1

With Maryland recently joining the conference, true road games are a new thing with the Terps. Izzo has faced Maryland four times on the neutral court before it joined the Big Ten, going 2-2 in those games. Having a really hard time remember that last neutral court game before Maryland joined the Big Ten though…

AT MICHIGAN

Under Izzo: 10-11 (.476)

Last 5 games: 2-3

Streak: L1

Izzo really made his killing against the Wolverines from 1999-2005, going 5-1 in Ann Arbor throughout that stretch. Michigan fans will laugh and say that was a long time ago, and I’m sure they will still laugh when you point out that it’s also the same window in which their football team last won a conference title.

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AT MINNEOSTA

Under Izzo: 14-6 (.700)

Last 5 games: 4-1

Streak: W3

The only time Izzo has lost back-to-back games at the barn was in 2002-03. Since then, every loss at Minnesota has been chased by a victory.

AT NEBRASKA

Under Izzo: 4-1 (.800)

Last 5 games: 4-1

Streak: W2

MSU at Nebraska absolutely sucked in football and basketball in 2015. That those games though? Not terrible, considering MSU reached the College Football Playoff and the Final Four in the same seasons. The lesson? Always lose at Nebraska when you can.

AT NORTHWESTERN

Under Izzo: 16-3 (.842)

Last 5 games: 4-1

Streak: W4

Just total domination by Izzo in Evanston. Izzo’s longest win streak in Wildcat territory is seven games, dating from the 2004 season to the 2011 season.

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AT OHIO STATE

Under Izzo: 11-9 (.550)

Last 5 games: 2-3

Streak: W1

Izzo and Thad Matta had some great battles in Columbus with the Buckeyes having the slight edge from 2004-17, with MSU going 5-6 whenever they paid Matta’s Buckeyes a visit.

AT PENN STATE

Under Izzo: 15-3 (.833)

Last 5 games: 4-1

Streak: W4

Izzo’s four-game win streak in Happy Valley might not be if it weren’t for the 2017 game being played at the Palestra. MSU lost that game 72-63, but hey, that’s a neutral court game in the eyes of historians.

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

AT PURDUE

Under Izzo: 8-12 (.400)

Last 5 games: 2-3

Streak: L3

Mackey Arena seems like a tough place to play with the student section sitting as a wall behind the basket, which hasn’t been kind during MSU’s current three-game losing streak in West Lafayette. However, before that streak started, MSU had a three-game win streak in the Boilermakers home. Good times.

AT RUTGERS

Under Izzo: 3-0 (1.000)

Last 5 games: N/A

Streak: W3

Imagine rooting for a team that loses to Rutgers at football or basketball. Can’t be my team.

AT WISCONSIN

Under Izzo: 8-13 (.381)

Last 5 games: 2-3

Streak: W1

Personally, I think time just stopped for me somewhere around 2011. That’s the year MSU capped off a six-game losing streak in Madison, and since then I’ve just assumed the Spartans have lost every game there since too. I know the record books say MSU won last year, but I still refuse to believe it. If you asked me who won last year, I would’ve said the Badgers by seven points. I am SHOOK whenever the Spartans march to Madison.