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5 reasons Michigan State basketball will be back in 2020 Final Four

By Connor Muldowney

Cassius Winston, Michigan State basketball (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Cassius Winston, Michigan State basketball (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2. Tom Izzo changed his coaching style — for the better

If the 2018-19 season proved anything, it’s that Tom Izzo has changed his style. He let the offense run freely and had his best players on the court most of the time. He didn’t run a ton of weird lineups like he usually does, based on matchups, but he won by asserting dominance.

The previous season, he was grilled for playing Ben Carter against Syracuse’s zone defense more than Jaren Jackson Jr., a top-five NBA draft pick. Of course, Carter wasn’t the reason Michigan State missed a boatload of threes and lost in the second round in major upset fashion, but it was a questionable move, nonetheless.

Izzo gave the keys to Cassius Winston in 2018-19 and it happened to be the right move. He trusted his best player 100 percent and let him do his thing, even if that meant ditching his old-fashioned ways.

Meeting with Steve Kerr must have had an impact on his coaching style because the Spartans scored more, had a much faster-paced offense, pushing the tempo constantly. This didn’t hurt the defense either.

The Hall of Fame head coach’s style changed for the better and that’s great news heading into next season.

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