Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Texas Tech

Michigan State basketball is facing its biggest test of the season against Texas Tech in the Final Four. Here’s why the Spartans will win.

Nineteen years ago, Tom Izzo was celebrating the biggest win of his career. His Spartans had just beaten Florida in the national title game to capture the now-Hall of Fame head coach’s first, and only, championship.

On Saturday night, Michigan State will have an opportunity to send the head coach to his third title game and set him up to win the elusive No. 2.

Texas Tech won’t be an easy team to beat, though. The Red Raiders have the best defense in America, but the Spartans have had a week to prepare for Chris Beard’s aggressive attack.

Here’s why the Spartans will beat Texas Tech and advance to the national title game.

5. Winning the battle on the boards

Michigan State has a distinct advantage in the post and on the glass. The Spartans don’t have a ton of depth down low — although Thomas Kithier could help with that — but Texas Tech has even less and the Red Raiders average just 34 rebounds per game.

The Spartans average over 40 and the battle on the glass should be a crucial part of this game.

Luckily, losing the rebounding battle didn’t hurt Michigan State against Duke, but if it did win the boards, it would have had a more comfortable win. And fortunately, there’s no Zion Williamson on Texas Tech who can grab offensive boards at a high clip.

The Spartans need to out-rebound Texas Tech comfortable, shut down the second-chance points and then get out and run on defensive boards and the game should be well in hand.

Michigan State will do just that.