Michigan State’s men’s basketball program has been handed a boost as CBS Sports analyst Gary Parrish releases his latest preseason poll, positioning the Spartans at No. 6 nationally.
The placement situates the team just beyond the elite top five, a spot that mirrors the broader sentiment among analysts who anticipate a strong campaign from Tom Izzo’s squad.
Big Ten Hierarchy
Within the Big Ten, only Illinois climbs higher, landing at No. 3, while a cluster of conference powerhouses — including Michigan, UCLA, USC, Purdue, Indiana and Ohio State — appear scattered throughout the remainder of the top 25.
Parrish notes that Michigan State has historically hovered between No. 5 and No. 10 in most preseason assessments, reinforcing the notion that the Spartans are expected to contend for a high seed.
The alignment of Parrish’s evaluation with other reputable polls suggests that expectations for the team are not merely optimistic but grounded in a collective belief that the Spartans will be a very good team entering next season.