Tom Izzo absolutely loves this time of year, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the holiday season.

Over the next 12 days, Michigan State will play just one basketball game, a Dec. 21 clash with Oakland in East Lansing. The Spartans don’t have another game until Dec. 29, when they host Northern Illinois in the non-conference finale.

What plans does Izzo have for his team during that stretch? Practice. And lots of it.

After Michigan State posted a 104-83 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday evening, Izzo met with the media to talk about the game, as well as the upcoming week in East Lansing. The longtime head coach said this is his favorite time of year because it’s a great opportunity to improve.

“For me, it’s the greatest time of year, and it’s not cuz it’s Christmas,” Izzo said after the game. “There’s no school, there’s no finals, there’s no excuses. Most of the girlfriends are gone. Most of their buddies are gone. And we get four days to practice with no rules, no anything. So, we’re gonna practice.”

Michigan State is off to a hot start this season, sitting at 9-2 on the year, with wins over UCLA, Texas, Iowa and Florida on the resumé. The two losses came to Kansas and Louisville.

But Izzo wants to take the opportunity to clean up some of the play and have the Spartans playing their best basketball entering the grueling B1G schedule.

It’s a good thing Allen Iverson isn’t on the bench. He certainly be happy with Izzo’s plan for so much practice.