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Michigan State Basketball: Comparing 2015-16 Spartans to this year’s squad

By Ryan Kay

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: Denzel Valentine #45, Eron Harris #14 and Matt Costello #10 of the Michigan State Spartans react against the Maryland Terrapins in the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: Denzel Valentine #45, Eron Harris #14 and Matt Costello #10 of the Michigan State Spartans react against the Maryland Terrapins in the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 06: Matt Costello #10 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a second half dunk with Denzel Valentine #45 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on January 6, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 06: Matt Costello #10 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a second half dunk with Denzel Valentine #45 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on January 6, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The 2015-2016 Michigan State Basketball squad ended their season with a shocking NCAA Tournament loss, this year’s Spartan team can learn from their mistakes and make a run at an Elite Eight run and more.

The 2015-2016 and this Season’s Spartan Teams have Similarities, but they are different but let’s look at their resumes first.

Highlights of 2015-2016 Season

29 wins

2nd place Big Ten Regular season finish

Big Ten Tournament Champions

Wooden Legacy Tournament Champions

Key Victories: Kansas (Champions Classic), Providence (Wooden Legacy), Louisville, Big 5 Conferences wins: Florida and Boston College, Big Ten key wins: Maryland (Twice), Michigan (away), Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue, and Ohio State (three times).

Key Contributors/Players now in NBA:

Denzel Valentine (Chicago Bulls) Byron Forbes (San Antonio Spurs), Deyonta Davis (Golden State Warrior’s G League affiliate)

Highlights of 2018-2019 Michigan State Team

18-4 Record

Tied for 1st Place in the Big Ten

Champions of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational

Key Victories:  Big 5 Conferences wins: Texas (at Las Vegas), UCLA (at Las Vegas), and at Florida

Big Ten key wins: Maryland,  Purdue, Nebraska (away), Iowa (Twice) and Ohio State (away).

Key Contributors: Cassius Winston and Nick Ward

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