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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Minnesota in NCAA Tournament

By Connor Muldowney

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives with the ball against the Bradley Braves during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives with the ball against the Bradley Braves during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 21: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Armon Brummett #4 of the Bradley Braves during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 21: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Armon Brummett #4 of the Bradley Braves during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Spartans advance to Sweet 16 with double-digit win

The Sweet 16 has been elusive for far too long. Michigan State has gone three seasons without a pass out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament and, for Tom Izzo, that’s a lifetime.

Izzo knows what it takes to get out of the first weekend and he’s done it so often throughout his career, making 13 Sweet 16s, nine Elite Eights and seven Final Fours, but he has to make sure his team buys in. The Spartans have one thing on their mind: a national title.

In order for the team to realize that dream, it needs to take the tournament one game at a time, and I think that’s where two of the last three teams have fallen apart. In 2015-16, Denzel Valentine and Co. assumed they’d walk to the Final Four with one of Izzo’s best teams, but tripped up in round one against No. 15 Middle Tennessee. In 2016-17, the team was loaded with freshmen and was on the bubble quite a bit so one tourney win was expected.

Lastly, in 2017-18, the Spartans were as talented as ever, but couldn’t win the games that mattered and overlooked Syracuse in the second round to lose a heartbreaker and potentially Izzo’s best chance at title No. 2.

Next. 5 takeaways from nail-biting win over Bradley. dark

This team is mentally tough and it doesn’t take any game for granted. You’ll see a focused squad on Saturday night as they beat Minnesota by 10 to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2014-15.

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