By R.L. Bynum

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Tom Izzo says it’s too early to declare anything definitive about his No. 11 Michigan State team, or any team, for that matter.

After the Spartans thumped an overmatched East Carolina team 89–56 on Tuesday at the Fort Myers Tip-Off, the Hall of Fame coach has seen enough Novembers to know that early games don’t always tell the truth.

“Where everybody is? I’m not even sure where we are yet,” Izzo said. “It’s going to take 10 to 12 games to figure out. Some of these big wins might be big wins because those teams aren’t quite good enough, or maybe those teams get better. It’s a long, long season. So don’t get fooled.”

Michigan State (6–0) has victories in two high-level games so far, beating No. 22 Arkansas 69–66 on Nov. 8 at home and No. 19 Kentucky 83–66 in New York on Nov. 18 at the Champions Classic, and gets another chance at 4:30 Thursday (Fox) when it takes on No. 16 North Carolina (6–0) in the second game of the event for both teams.

Izzo called it “another measuring stick” for a team still learning its identity.

“The culture of our program gets tested on Thursday, that’s for sure,” said Izzo, acknowledging that the Tar Heels he’ll face are vastly different than the team the Spartans beat 94–91 in overtime at the Maui Invitational one year ago.

Izzo expects an electric atmosphere and a vastly different challenge than East Carolina posed.

“Very different team and they’ve got a hell of a player,” he said of UNC freshman Caleb Wilson. “He’s a legitimate star, if you ask me. I mean, he’s very good.”

Wilson, a 6-foot-9 forward, has drawn national attention for his versatility and scoring touch, and Izzo sounded impressed after watching video of him.

Junior Arizona transfer center Henri Veesaar has also made an impression on Izzo, who noted that he can stretch the floor.

“Another big kid,” Izzo said. “He’s made threes. He can shoot the ball.”

Izzo counters with physical 6–10, 245-pound senior center Jaxson Kohler, who had 16 points and eight rebounds against the Pirates while making all four 3-point attempts.

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That combination of length and skill, paired with UNC’s athletic wings, will force Michigan State to defend in ways it hasn’t yet this season.

Izzo admitted he hasn’t studied every detail of Carolina yet — “I’ve got other things,” he joked— but he knows enough to expect a fight.

“They’re going to guard us, too,” he said. “It’ll be a great game. I think it’ll be an incredible atmosphere.”

For now, Izzo is savoring what went right Tuesday: better 3-point shooting (13 of 28), improved defense and a bench that he says is showing growth.

But he kept circling back to perspective.

“I’m hoping all my guys get better by the end of the year,” he said. “I wouldn’t put a lot into a bunch of wins or a bunch of losses until we get 10 games in. Then we’ll have a better idea who’s who and what’s what.”

Thursday won’t settle everything, but Izzo knows it will reveal something.

“These kinds of games are what make basketball exciting,” he said. “We’ll see if we — or they — live up to the billing.”