Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat LSU in Sweet 16

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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 21: Aaron Henry #11, Matt McQuaid #20, Cassius Winston #5, Xavier Tillman #23, and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans stand on the court during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament against the Bradley Braves at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

2. Experience

Don’t get me wrong, young, inexperienced teams can win games in the NCAA Tournament, but when they face opponents with veteran leadership and experience, they usually struggle in crunch time.

Michigan State’s experience will be a determining factor in this one because, well, LSU doesn’t have a ton of it, especially when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. In fact, LSU has just two seniors and only one played in an NCAA Tournament before — but it was with Oregon where Kavell Bigby-Williams transferred from.

The Tigers hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2015 and even though Will Wade has been turning the program around — legally or not — his team doesn’t have experience in big games.

Michigan State has been to the NCAA Tournament for 22 straight years and the seniors have played in four straight — Kenny Goins was a redshirt freshman in 2014-15 when the Spartans made the Final Four. The juniors have been to three now, sophomore to two and the freshmen are the only ones getting their first taste of the Big Dance.

Difference in experience levels is going to play a major role between the Tigers and Spartans come Friday night, but we’ll see if Michigan State can take advantage.

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