2008-09 record: 31-7 overall, 15-3 Big Ten (1st)
Where do we even begin with Sparty? Every college hoops preseason poll has MSU in its top five. You know Izzo's identity: He will put together a squad that will wipe the boards clean with you sweat, D you up so hard that you might as well hand them the ball, and run you so fast that your coach will describe the game as "a blur for 40 minutes," as Iowa coach Todd Lickliter did last season in the post-game press conference.
Everyone knows the Spartans fell short to North Carolina last year at Ford Field in Detroit. MSU can and should reach the Final Four again in Indianapolis this year. It returns the core of that group, and they are almost more motivated now after what happened last April. Look out.
Sparty's depth will wear teams down to the bone. Lindy's college basketball preview magazine has MSU's backcourt ranked #1 overall, and for good reason. Junior Kalin Lucas looks to join elite company in terms of Spartans point guards who led their team to a national title. The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year is already being discussed in the same breath as legends Magic Johnson and Mateen Cleaves. His supporting cast of Durrell Summers, Chris Allen and Korie Lucious all will be much improved. I personally like Summers' game (a more athletic and explosive version of my favorite MSU alum, Shannon Brown) and believe he will have the best year of the four. Plus, did you see his dunk on Connecticut's Stanley Robinson in the national semifinal?? The man is a freakish leaper. Travis Walton's absence due to graduation will be missed, but others will pick up his defensive and leadership responsibilities.
Raymar Morgan needs to have a sensational comeback season as a senior after a lackluster season last year, which a back injury contributed to. Delvon Roe was a highly-ranked prospect coming in last year as a freshman, but knee injuries also slowed him down, however he showed flashes during the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Signs point to him dominating opposing forwards this year. Rounding out the frontcourt is sophomore Draymond Green, junior Tom Herzog and freshmaen Garrick Sherman and Derrick Nix. The losses of Goran Suton and Marquise Gray are big blows, but if Morgan and Roe step up and the others play a kind of center-by-committee, Sparty should be ok down low.
MSU ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring last season (72 ppg). I don't see anyone talented enough to slow down the green machine this year. To challengers I say, good luck.
Signing off, RL.
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