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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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COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 5: Luther Muhammad #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes battles for a rebound with Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans and Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half on January 5, 2019 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State defeated Ohio State 86-77. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 5: Luther Muhammad #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes battles for a rebound with Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans and Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half on January 5, 2019 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State defeated Ohio State 86-77. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

How Michigan State performed during the season

The Spartans largely met preseason expectations in conference play, winning a share of the Big Ten regular-season crown with a 25-6 (16-4) record. Doubts about this team began to creep in during a slow 5-2 start that included a disappointing loss at what was a supposed to be a rebuilding Louisville team, but those quickly went away thanks to a 13-game win streak that pushed Michigan State to as high as No. 6 in the country.

After a rough stretch in late January and early February, the Spartans closed the regular season with seven wins over their final eight games to return to the top 10. That hot streak continued in postseason play as they handed three NCAA Tournament teams (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan) on their way to winning the Big Ten Tournament title, drawing praise from Izzo.

"“I’ve never been prouder of a team in my life. Coaches say that every time after they win and year after year, and I’ve had some incredible teams and incredible guys, but what these guys have been through nobody will ever know, and the way they have handled it and hung in there.”"

Michigan State has carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament, where defense and quality play from Winston led them past Bradley, Minnesota, LSU, and then that narrow victory over Duke.

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