Michigan State Basketball: Comparing 2015-16 Spartans to this year’s squad
By Ryan Kay
Team failed to meet expectations when it mattered but wasn’t a failure
The 2015-2016 Michigan State team had high expectations with national media experts predicting that they would become national champions. Many Michigan State fans expected their basketball team to make it to the Final Four with little exceptions. However, those same fans get irate and upset when MSU finishes in 5th place in a holiday tournament or loses their Champion Classic game in November.
They also get upset when The Spartans lose a non-conference game to a non-power 5 conference team or can’t go into conference play undefeated or ranked #1 in the country. Well, Michigan State that season beat Providence to win their holiday tournament in the Wooden Legacy Tournament and they beat Kansas in the Champions Classic. They went undefeated in non-conference play going 13-0 and were ranked #1 in the county from the week of December 7th in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Poll till the week of December 28th.
The Big Ten regular season went well however they lost to Iowa twice and was upset by Nebraska. Not to make excuses for that seasons Spartans Big Ten defeats but Denzel Valentine was injured or not 100% healthy for a big portion of those defeats. That Michigan State team lost two home games in Big Ten play and had five Big Ten loses total. However, they didn’t win the regular season Big Ten title and came in 2nd place behind Big Ten Champion Indiana. They did, however, win the Big Ten Tournament which has not always been an easy task for Tom Izzo and the Spartans.
Being 29-5 did not get them a number 1 seed and that would end up making the Spartans vulnerable. Even though it was not likely, number 15 seeds have been known to pull the upset as mentioned earlier. MSU lost to MTSU and it was devastating to many Spartan fans. The end does not always justify the means. The season did not have fairy tale ending but it was a good ride and that can’t be denied.