Ranking Michigan State’s Most Impressive Final Fours Under Tom Izzo

Jan 17, 2015; College Park, MD, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speaks to an official during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Michigan State Spartans 75-59. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2. 2010 Michigan State Spartans (28-9)

The only reason this one isn’t No. 1 on the list is because this team had much more talent on it than the current 2015 Spartan squad in the Final Four. I mean, look at Korie Lucious, Kalin Lucas (although injured in the first game), Raymar Morgan, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green, Chris Allen and Delvon Roe.

If you thought this team was doomed after Lucas went down with a devastating Achilles injury in the first game of the NCAA Tournament, then you must have been crazy because MSU was built for a run, despite earning just a No. 5 seed heading into March Madness.

Like I said earlier, this run was so impressive because of the way Lucious had to step up and fill in for the injured star point guard Kalin Lucas. However, it wasn’t a huge surprise that this team made it as far as they did without their top player as the Spartans tied for the regular season Big Ten title and finished the year 24-8.

Without Lucas, other guys had to step up and that was when Korie Lucious rose to the occasion, knocking down a huge buzzer-beater against Maryland to send this team to the Sweet 16.

It seemed like the season was coming to an end, however, as MSU had to face a huge Cinderella candidate in Northern Iowa, who had just beaten Kansas, but the Spartans took care of business, downing the Panthers to head to the Elite Eight.

Tennessee was the next foe in the way of a Final Four and Michigan State gave Spartan fans everywhere a heart attack, sneaking out of St. Louis with a one-point victory over the Volunteers to head to Indianapolis.

Butler defeated MSU on a controversial no-foul call on a late Draymond Green shot that gave the Bulldogs a narrow two-point win over our Spartans.

This run was the definition of improbable – as well as impressive.

Next: 2015 MSU Spartans