Nominating this year’s Michigan State Spartans as a Cinderella is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s hard to ignore their tournament seed, seven. On the other, it’s hard to ignore Tom Izzo.
No one should be surprised when Izzo coached teams make runs in March. This is MSU’s fifth Final Four under Izzo when the Spartans have lost seven or more games on the season. In fact, seven of the past eight seasons have seen Sparty march on to the Sweet 16.
This year, they could finish the job for the first time since 2000.
Michigan State has one of the most dynamic guards available in this Final Four with Travis Trice. When put in ball screen situations, Trice is a terror on the defense and can make an opponent pay in a variety of ways.
Alongside him is, of course, Denzel Valentine, who is a tremendously difficult match up for any defense.
Neither of those two, however, will be the reason for Sparty taking home the title.
Rather, it will be Michigan State’s toughness, and unrelenting dedication to the role that each player is assigned. No one on this team whines about the number of shots they get, or how much defense or rebounding effort that Izzo demands from them.
If there is a loose ball, an available rebound or key hustle play that must be made late in the game, a Spartan will be there to make it. In the end, that kind of toughness will prove the difference between MSU and their competition.
