After scoring the victory of the tournament by knocking out Duke’s collection of fabulous freshmen, Michigan State is back in the Final Four and looking to secure Tom Izzo’s second national championship.
Just when it seemed safe to count out the Michigan State Spartans, Tom Izzo’s team is back in the Final Four. After three consecutive exits in the first weekend of March Madness, the Spartans’ ceiling looked limited when they got handed a 2-seed in the East Region, where they were ticketed to face off against Zion Williamson and Duke.
That matchup came to pass and the Spartans were up to the task, toppling Duke 68-67 to send shockwaves throughout the country and get back to the Final Four. Michigan State will now square off with Big 12 regular season champion Texas Tech on Saturday, their third straight matchup with a conference champion after squaring off with LSU (SEC regular season champions) and Duke (ACC Tournament champions).
The Red Raiders present a different kind of challenge than Duke because they have arguably the scariest defense left in the field, locking down high-powered offenses like Buffalo and Gonzaga on the way to Minneapolis. Whoever emerges from this game has an excellent chance to cut down the nets on Monday night.
Strengths
The biggest strength for Michigan State comes from the presence of head coach Tom Izzo on their sideline. Izzo is the only coach left standing who has Final Four experience, and that is a huge advantage over the other teams in the field. This is one of his finest seasons.
Another big plus for the Spartans is the leadership of junior point guard Cassius Winston, the Big Ten’s Player of the Year. Winston may not be a premier pro prospect like some of the players Michigan State has faced along the way, but he brings tremendous intangibles and playmaking ability to the Spartans’ offense.
The Spartans also are excellent on the glass, grabbing 41 rebounds a night as they attack the boards as a team. Xavier Tillman and Nick Ward have been Michigan State’s best rebounders, but like a typical Spartans’ team, everyone is willing to get their elbows dirty to help the team.
Michigan State is also an excellent defensive team, holding opponents to just 65 points per game, and surrendered only 67 against a high-powered Duke attack featuring three potential lottery picks. That defensive execution should keep the Spartans in any game.
Weaknesses
The most significant weakness the Spartans have is a general lack of depth. Losing Joshua Langford to an injury early in the season hurts a lot since he was expected to play a key role on the offense.
Michigan State suffered another blow when key reserve Kyle Ahrens suffered a brutal ankle injury in the Big Ten Tournament final against Michigan. Ahrens was playing big minutes in the Spartans’ rotation, and without him, Izzo has been playing essentially seven guys for the entire NCAA Tournament.
This isn’t a big issue if everyone produces and stays out of foul trouble, but it does leave Michigan State’s margin for error perilously thin.
Player to watch – Cassius Winston
If you’ve watched a second of Michigan State basketball this season, you know the answer to this question already and it’s Cassius Winston. Winston is the engine that drives the Michigan State offense, averaging 18.8 points per game and 7.5 assists per game this season.
While other players on the floor are all more likely to become elite pros than Winston, he is the clear leader on a very strong college basketball team. Winston thrives under pressure and has the heart of a lion, and his performance against Duke showed that he is capable of putting Michigan State on his back against anyone.
The biggest key to victory vs. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders present a matchup problem for Michigan State due to their swarming defense. Texas Tech’s ability to harass offensive players, clog passing lanes, and use their length to challenge shots has already frustrated several high-powered offenses to date in March Madness.
Michigan State will need to stay composed throughout this game and play their game as best as possible without trying to force the issue against Texas Tech. Forcing things will lead to turnovers, and Texas Tech has the athletes to create a ton of transition points if Michigan State isn’t careful.
Simply executing their offense and not getting frustrated with the Red Raiders’ defense should put Michigan State in an excellent position to win this basketball game and reach their first national championship game since 2009. That appearance ended with a loss to Roy Williams and North Carolina, a fate Izzo and the Spartans are poised to avoid this year.