Final Four 2019: Each team's fatal flaw

Final Four 2019: Each team’s fatal flaw

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after a play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with his teammates after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Michigan State: Depth due to injuries

As has been said before, this is perhaps the best coaching job that Tom Izzo has ever done with the Michigan State Spartans. Not only does he not have some of the top-tier talent that we’ve seen pass through East Lansing in previous years, but he’s also been put up against it down the stretch due to circumstances, particularly as it pertains to injuries.

The Spartans lost Josh Langford, a guy who was going to be relied on as a sure scoring option this year, early in the season and he has not and will not return. Meanwhile, veteran forward Nick Ward is also dealing with a hand injury and, while he’s still playing, he’s not as big of a factor as he would normally be. That has left the Spartans exceptionally thin in their rotation.

In Michigan State’s upset of the top-overall seed Duke Blue Devils, Izzo used just seven players in his rotation, but even that doesn’t tell the whole story. The Spartans actually logged just 16 minutes from their bench, with the injured Ward playing 13 of those. While Izzo is fully aware of how he needs to play to combat this issue, it could be a problem against deeper teams like Texas Tech and Virginia.

This team is exceptionally tough and resilient every time they touch the floor, but the issues with depth could ultimately come to rear their head in the Final Four. If there’s any kind of foul trouble — or even just simple fatigue — the Spartans could find themselves up against it.

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