Michigan State’s Roller Coaster Ride to the Final Four
What a long, windy, up-and-down road it has been to the Final Four this year for the Michigan State basketball team. Of the seven Final Fours Tom Izzo has been to, I think it’s safe to say this has been the least likely and one of, if not the most, rewarding.
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At the start of the season I was excited to watch this team but for different reasons than most years. This team, unlike many of its predecessors, did not have lottery or first round NBA talent but instead it was a collection of guys that truly liked one another and would play for each other and treat each other like family.
It was no secret to them that they were the underdogs and that this was supposed to be a down year until next year’s recruiting class came in; however, they refused to accept preseason expectations. Over the summer, I saw countless twitter posts, videos and pictures of guys working in the gym trying as hard as they could to get better and prove themselves to the doubters. Seeing all of this meant to me that there was not going to be a question of effort on the court, which as a fan, makes you proud and the Spartans extremely easy to root for.
Mar 29, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Matt Costello (10) and guard Travis Trice (20) celebrate after the game in the finals of the east regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Carrier Dome. Michigan State Spartans won 76-70. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
At the beginning of the season, my expectations and hope for the Spartans was to get to the Sweet 16. I felt that it would be difficult without someone who could create their own shot or a big man who could play in the post consistently to get past that round.
The Spartans played their usual Izzo-influenced difficult non-conference schedule with Duke, Kansas and at Notre Dame as the headliners. Each of these games ended up in losses, Michigan State showed flashes during each of those games, but most certainly did not put together a full 40 minute game.
The “oh no” moment and precursor for much of the season came against Texas Southern. Granted, Branden Dawson did not play in this game, but by no means should the Spartans have gone to overtime with this team let alone lose the game at the Breslin Center. This game showed that if the Michigan State was not fully locked in and engaged, it could lose to anyone. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they could not just throw the jersey on and expect to win on talent alone, they would need to supply the effort that was worked on during the summer months in the practice gym.
As Big Ten play began the roller coaster of a season continued and even heightened with the peaks and valleys. There were tough losses and blown opportunities against Maryland in overtime, at Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota which made it seem like the tournament streak of 17 years could be in jeopardy. Then wins at Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue and Indiana made it seem like this team could play with almost anyone.
The roller coaster of ups and downs never ceased, for every good win their seemed to always be a bad loss right around the corner.
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The Spartans ended the season on a high note. Closing with tough wins against Purdue and at Indiana to give it the cherished double bye and No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Spartan Nation was still figuring out what this team was heading into the conference tourney. Would they be bounced in the first round or could they make a small run to the championship game? Well, we quickly found out.
I firmly believe that MSU found themselves in Chicago during those three days. First, it was a blowout win against Ohio State, finally putting a team away. Then came the Maryland game, playing against not only a top-tier team but a team that had beaten the Spartans twice and really showed MSU’s deficiencies. The Spartans not only won the game but did so having to show true heart and fight back after digging themselves a large deficit.
Finally came the title game against Wisconsin. This Badger team was one of the elite’s, a team that MSU had no business being on the floor with — or so everyone thought. Wisconsin had thoroughly thrashed Michigan State on their home floor earlier in the year and most, including myself, thought the same would probably happen again. It did not, Michigan State came out firing and gave Wisconsin everything it could handle.
Mar 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
That day the Spartans outplayed the Badgers for 38 minutes and deserved to win the game but just couldn’t close the deal. Even though the loss was a tough pill to swallow, most thought this was their best chance to hang a banner in the Breslin Center, it proved they could play with the elite teams and showed they could do serious damage in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Most felt the Spartans were under seeded at No. 7 but it looked as though they had a favorable draw with Georgia in the round of 64 and a tough, but beatable, Virginia squad in the round of 32. My only fear as the game with Georgia approached was that MSU would have a hangover and not be able to overcome/let the loss to Wisconsin go. If the Spartans could get past Georgia, I knew they had a great opportunity to take a shot at the Elite Eight.
Michigan State made it through that weekend defeating Georgia and Virginia. Also in that weekend N.C. State took down No. 1-seeded Villanova. Suddenly, everyone and their mother was picking Michigan State to win the East Regional and make it to the Final Four. Wait, what?
The Spartans had suddenly gone from, will they make to the tourney to the prohibitive favorite to win the East Region — talk about continuing the roller coaster ride.
That brings us to present time. The Spartans most certainly did win another weekend and are champions of the East Region. They endeared themselves to Spartan Nation by embracing their shortcomings but always playing together as a team. The loss in the Big Ten Championship is now an afterthought, a Final Four banner will hang in the Breslin Center and this team will live in Spartan lore forever.
MSU is now playing with house money. Making the Final Four far exceeded any expectations for them. A loss to Duke will not take anything away they have accomplished in this past month. But as team captain Travis Trice said “We’re not done yet.” Stranger things have happened and the climb the rest of the way will be steep to say the least but, let’s continue to enjoy this roller coaster ride they have taken us on and see exactly where it ends up.