In a closely contested game, the Michigan State Spartans suffered a defeat at the hands of the Illinois Fighting Illini, with a final score of 71-68. The loss leaves the Spartans with a 1-4 record in the Big Ten and casts doubts on their chances of making their 26th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State's longtime head coach, Tom Izzo, finds himself in an unfamiliar position with a 1-4 record in the Big Ten for the first time since taking over the coaching reins from Jud Heathcote in the 1995-96 season. The Spartans' historic streak is now very much at risk, although computer projections still have them on the right side of the bubble.

On the other hand, the Illinois Fighting Illini have shown resilience in the face of recent adversity. The team had to navigate through the absence of their star player, Terrence Shannon Jr., due to a suspension following a rape charge in Kansas. Despite this setback, the Illini have managed to perform admirably, with a 3-1 record in the Big Ten.

The game between Michigan State and Illinois was decided at the free-throw line, with the Illini outscoring the Spartans by a significant margin of 18-5. This advantage proved crucial as Illinois secured a three-point victory. However, it is worth noting that the Illini's sole loss during this recent stretch came against Purdue at Mackey Arena, where they went down 83-78.

In the latest CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings, Illinois finds itself at the ninth spot. Purdue, with a record of 6-2 in Quadrant 1 opportunities, continues to hold the top position for the second consecutive day. Notably, KenPom.com projects the Illini as favorites in their upcoming seven games, with a potential 10-1 record in the Big Ten if they were to win them all. Their next challenge will be a game against Michigan State on February 10.

The outlook for the Spartans seems daunting, as they now have a 1-4 conference record and an uncertain future in the NCAA Tournament. The loss to Illinois serves as a stark reminder that their historic streak of 25 straight appearances in the tournament is very much hanging in the balance. As the season progresses, only time will tell if Michigan State can reverse their fortunes and bolster their chances of extending their impressive NCAA Tournament streak.