College basketball rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 for 2019-20

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Michigan State Spartans forward Aaron Henry (11) and Michigan State Spartans guard Cassius Winston (5) celebrate after winning the NCAA East Regional Final between the Michigan State Spartans and the Duke Blue Devils at Capital One Arena on Sunday, March 31, 2019. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Duke Blue Devils 68-67. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

This just felt like Tom Izzo’s year. He lost a couple of key players throughout the year, including Josh Langford for the season, but his Spartans kept battling on, winning the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles.

Michigan State won 30 games for the second consecutive year and many argued that this year’s team was even better than last which had Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr.

But the run fell short in the Final Four as Texas Tech defended the Spartans right out of the gym. There was no margin for error and a late comeback effort fell just short, seeing a one-point deficit with a couple of minutes left turn into seven in the snap of a finger.

Izzo was heartbroken, but he didn’t expect this team without Langford to contend for a national title, and it did.

Expectations will be vaulted even more next season with almost everyone returning. Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid are graduating, but Cassius Winston, Langford and Nick Ward should all be back. Xavier Tillman, Aaron Henry, Kyle Ahrens, Gabe Brown, Thomas Kithier, Foster Loyer and Marcus Bingham Jr. also join the fold.

Add in Rocket Watts and Malik Hall — a couple of four-star recruits — and you have one of the deepest teams in the Izzo era.

This has the feel of the 1999 Michigan State team that nearly won it all before getting back and taking the crown in 2000.