Michigan State Basketball: Comparing the 2018-19 Spartans to last year’s squad
By Ryan Kay
Was last season’s Spartans that much of a disappointment?
Last season’s Michigan State team at times was outstanding, fun to watch, and had a good group of young men that were easy to cheer for. Looking at their margin of victory, their defensive statistics, and their domination in Big Ten regular season play all combined making last season’s Spartan team superior in comparison to many previous Michigan State teams. Last season’s team produced two future NBA 1st round draft picks in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges who made highlight after highlight from amazing chase down block shots to spectacular two-handed dunks.
They had arguably the deepest and best frontcourt in all of college basketball. But in the end, the expectation is to win a national championship. Many Spartans fans will argue that last season’s team had not lived up to expectations and thus a disappointment.
Last year’s team needs some credit, they deserve it
Comparing last season’s team to the championship teams of 2000 and 1979 prior to NCAA Tournament play, it is easy to see how the 2017-2018 team had as much of or even a more impressive regular season resume. The 1999-2000 MSU team lost to Texas in the Puerto Rico Shootout tournament and then lost at Arizona by 11 points. They lost a tough one on the road at Kentucky but were shocked by Wright State 49-53. They ended up for 13-3 in Big Ten play and won the Big Ten regular season and Big Ten Tournament titles.
The 1978-1979 MSU Team went 7-1 in non-conference play with a less impressive margin of victories than the 2017-2018 team. Like the 1999-2000 team loss at Wright State, that season’s team lost a shocking 65-83 game at Northwestern. The 1978-1979 went 13-5 in Big Ten play winning the Big Ten Title. The big difference, however, was that both championship teams played tough non-conference schedules. The 2017-2018 team on paper had a tough schedule but in comparison was not considered as difficult a schedule as the championship teams had endured.
The championship teams also had strong floor leaders in Mateen Cleaves and Magic Ervin Johnson. Magic Johnson would end up being a top 10 All NBA greatest player in history and the 2000 championship team had four players play multiple years in the NBA. Most importantly, both championship teams won their NCAA Tournament games and they fought their way to national championships. The 2017-2018 looked like they had the makings of a championship team, but they failed to even make it to a Final Four appearance.