Michigan State Basketball: Spartans silence doubters on way to Final Four

By Ryan Kay | Apr 1, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with his teammates after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 21: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during a game against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half at Breslin Center on January 21, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Why Michigan State and Tom Izzo Deserve more respect

It started when the NCAA Tournament Committee announced that Michigan State was not only a #2 seed but also placed in the same region as top seeded Duke. Many were surprised with the Spartans seeding even though there were many reasons why Michigan State deserved a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Izzo didn’t even win Big Ten Coach of the year even though he and his team had to overcome the losses of their 2nd and 3rd leading scorers due to injuries on their way to Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. However, the lack of support and the growing amount of those doubting the Spartans in the NCAA Tournament did not faze Michigan State.

Izzo could have easily accepted the growing amount of obstacles in his team’s path to a Final Four appearance as an excuse to why they couldn’t accomplish that goal. What happened though was the emergence and growing confidence of the Michigan State Spartans game after game and the brilliant display of coaching, game planning, and on court execution. Beating SEC regular season champion LSU by 17 shocked many and Michigan State beating the heavily talented Duke Blue Devils in Washington D.C. silenced many of the Spartan critics.

Michigan State is not done yet and either are their critics and doubters. The Spartan critics will still say, “Michigan State is not going to handle Texas Tech’s defense” and give reasons to why they will not have a chance to win a national title but Michigan State was not expected to win a national title let alone make it to a Final Four even before the season began.

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Losing Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr., and three seniors from last year’s team gave people reason to believe that Michigan State couldn’t even win a Big Ten title in 2019. However, the Spartans accomplished many of their goals and have not looked back since.

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