Michigan State Spartans
Big Ten (28-6, 16-4)
Despite a rash of injuries hampering Michigan State, they still finished with a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Outside of a three game losing streak in late January and early February against Purdue, Indiana and Illinois, this has been one of the most consistent teams in the country.
Big Wins: 1/8 Purdue (77-59), 2/12 at Wisconsin (67-59), 2/24 at Michigan (77-70)
Bad Losses: 11/27 at Louisville (78-82), 2/2 Indiana (75-79), 2/5 at Illinois (74-79)
Coach: Tom Izzo
Why They Can Surprise:
Coach Tom Izzo knows how to get the most out of his team during the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans share the ball extremely well and, as usual, they are one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Cassius Winston is one of the top passers in the country, dishing out 7.7 assists per game. He also hits over 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc and leads the team with 18.9 points per game. Winston can do it all and can carry this team a long way. Xavier Tillman and Kenny Goins are the team’s top two rebounders. Tillman has had a superb sophomore season, averaging 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds. Goins, an experienced senior, adds 8.2 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Why They Can Disappoint:
When Nick Ward is healthy, the Spartans are even more dominate on the glass. The 6-9 junior missed the last five regular season games with a hand injury and did not really get much of a chance to get back into the full swing of things during the Big Ten Tournament either. The Spartans and Coach Izzo deserve a lot of credit for getting production out of Henry, Goins, Xavier Tillman and Gabe Brown in the frontcourt, but they will need Ward playing his best if they are going to reach the Final Four.
Probable Starters:
Cassius Winston, Junior, Guard, 18.9 ppg, 7.7 apg
Matt McQuaid, Senior, Guard, 9.9 ppg, 2.2 apg
Aaron Henry, Freshman, Forward, 5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Kenny Goins, Senior, Forward, 8.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Nick Ward, Junior, Forward, 14.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Key Role Players:
Xavier Tillman, Sophomore, Forward, 9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Gabe Brown, Freshman, Forward, 2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 79.7 (38th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.9 (45, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 48.9 (14, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 37.6 (4, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.3 (116, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.1 (29, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.5 (42, 1)
Rebound Margin: 9.0 (4, 1)
Assists Per Game: 19.1 (3, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (176, 12)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Bucknell |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Syracuse |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Miami (FL) |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Kansas |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Middle Tennessee State |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Georgia |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Virginia |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Oklahoma |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Louisville |
| 2015 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Duke |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Delaware |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Harvard |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Virginia |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Connecticut |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Valparaiso |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Memphis |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Duke |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Long Island |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over St. Louis |
| 2012 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Louisville |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to UCLA |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over New Mexico State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Maryland |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Northern Iowa |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Tennessee |
| 2010 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Butler |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Robert Morris |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over USC |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Kansas |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Louisville |
| 2009 | NCAA | National Semifinal win over Connecticut |
| 2009 | NCAA | National Final loss to North Carolina |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Temple |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Pittsburgh |
| 2008 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Memphis |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Marquette |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to North Carolina |
*all team stats through 3/10
