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Michigan State Basketball: How the Spartans reached the Final Four

By Brian Rauf

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)
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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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after his teams 68-67 win over the Duke Blue Devils 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after his teams 68-67 win over the Duke Blue Devils 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Despite dealing with a rash of injuries, Michigan State basketball is in the Final Four for the third time this decade. Here is how they made it this far.

Michigan State basketball is not a Cinderella by any stretch of the imagination. They are a blueblood college basketball program that is used to experiencing March Madness success. But this Final Four run by this team has a bit of an unexpected flair that has made it all the more sweet for Spartans fans.

Michigan State maintained their place as the class of the Big Ten as they were expected to, but many wondered about their ability to compete with the very best of the best. Those concerns only got louder as the injuries continued to pile up, yet this team found a way through thanks to Cassius Winston and Tom Izzo.

Winston entered the season known as one of college basketball’s better players, but he emerged as a legitimate National Player of the Year candidate in what was a true breakout season for the junior point guard. Izzo also answered a lot of questions, shaking off three consecutive first weekend losses in the NCAA Tournament to win the program’s second straight Big Ten title and first conference tournament championship in three years.

He also led the Spartans back to a familiar place – the Final Four. Here’s how they were able to get back to this point.

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