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NCAA Tournament 2019: Key storylines for each Final Four team

By Ryan Kay

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: A detail of giant NCAA logo is seen outside of the stadium on the practice day prior to the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Georgia Dome on April 5, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: A detail of giant NCAA logo is seen outside of the stadium on the practice day prior to the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Georgia Dome on April 5, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 05: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during practice prior to the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 05: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during practice prior to the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Michigan State

Deserved or not, Michigan State has been getting the most attention out of all four of the teams in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week. They a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo, a superstar in  Winston, a former walk-on to starter in Kenny Goins, and a story of overcoming adversity by reaching the Final Four without their second-leading scorer Joshua Langford who was lost for the season due to injury. The Spartans are in their program’s 10th Final Four and they are the only blue blood in the Final Four field. However, in order for Michigan State to win their 3rd national championship, they first must beat Texas Tech first.

Michigan State has had an interesting NCAA Tournament. They after struggling in the first half ended up beating Bradley by 11 and then came out and dominated Minnesota by 20 and held them to only 50 points. Michigan State then surprised many by beating LSU by a score of 80 to 63. Duke the odds on favorite to win the NCAA Tournament this year before the tourney started, fell to the Spartans in the Elite Eight. Michigan State is the most battle-tested team headed into the Final Four.

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The Spartans match up well with Texas Tech but the Red Raiders also match up well with Michigan State. Izzo and his team will have a lot to deal with on the offensive end against the well-adjusted and efficient Texas Tech defense. The key to the Spartans success against the Red Raiders will be their three-point shooting and half-court defense. If Michigan State can make their three’s and limit Texas Tech in the half court offense than it is likely that the Spartans will be advancing to the national championship game.

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