Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from 2019 Big Ten tourney title win

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: Matt McQuaid #20 and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans pose for photos after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany presents head coach Tom Izzo the championship trophy after the Michigan State Spartans beat the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

1. Yes, this team is a Final Four contender

A few weeks ago after the loss to Indiana, I would have told you that this team had a Sweet 16 ceiling. No, that’s not because I didn’t believe in this year’s team, but they just didn’t seem to have the pieces other than Cassius Winston to get the job done.

The team was relying heavily on Winston to do just about everything while everyone else was remaining stagnant.

That has all changed in a short period of time.

Not only is Nick Ward back, but the Spartans are playing their best basketball of the season and they just got done winning the regular season Big Ten title, conference tournament title and they’ve done it without Josh Langford and five games without the junior big man.

Michigan State came from behind to beat Michigan for a third time this season and it just looks like the Spartans have that mental toughness that it takes to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Next. 5 reasons Michigan State deserved No. 1 seed. dark

This team is a Final Four contender.

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