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Michigan State Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2018-19 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 18: The Michigan State Spartans react during the first half against the Syracuse Orange in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 18: The Michigan State Spartans react during the first half against the Syracuse Orange in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

1. MSU makes run to Elite Eight

Three straight disappointments have to lead to something good, right? Michigan State basketball fans have been tortured in the NCAA Tournament for the past three seasons. Losing to Middle Tennessee as a No. 2 seed in 2015-16 was painful, dropping in blowout fashion to Kansas in 2016-17 hurt and falling to Syracuse in the second round in 2017-18 was a nightmare.

What’s next after losing two lottery picks?

How about an Elite Eight appearance. It doesn’t seem likely considering Michigan State lost a ton in Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr., Gavin Schilling, Tum Tum Nairn and Ben Carter, but it returns Cassius Winston, Nick Ward, Josh Langford, Matt McQuaid, Xavier Tillman, Kenny Goins and Kyle Ahrens with a five-man 2018 recruiting class. This team could be built better for March.

Tom Izzo is sick of losing on the first weekend and he used to be Mr. March. He’ll gain some of that recognition back this season with a strong run to the Elite Eight before losing to Kansas in a rematch of the season opener.

Next. Ranking Tom Izzo's top 10 recruiting classes. dark

Not making the Final Four is like a stake in the heart of Spartan fans, but essentially the entire team will return in 2019-20 to make an even deeper run.

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