Is Michigan State Tournament Ready?

With March madness right around the corner, a lot of final four talk has been going on. And the discussion has been rather or not Michigan state mens basketball team is capable of reaching that level of the NCAA tournaments.

Many were unsure of what the team would be like before the start of the season, but after the games start rolling in and the team began to excel, the final four became a discussion.

At the start of the season, even senior Draymond Green was unsure of what his team was capable of.  In the weekly press conference held on Monday, Green told reporters that he knew that this years team was special, but that didn’t assure him that their season would be successful. 

He said after the first few games he knew the team had a lot of potential, but they all were unsure of it, that’s why they didn’t excel against North Carolina and Duke.

“We weren’t sure, that is why we didn’t push against North Carolina and Duke,” said Green.

And fans were unsure of where the team would be as well.

Senior Khiry Ward said no doubt about he didn’t see the team prevailing at all.

“I thought we were going to be terrible this season like no lie,” said Ward

Ward said with most of the team leaving and with only one returning starter, he didn’t see the chemistry developing.

“A bunch of people left and we got a bunch of new people so I just didn’t think we were going to mesh well. We only had one returning starter. I didn’t think we were going to have the chemistry to be successful,” said Ward.

And Senior Renold Jeanlouis was doubtful as well with the team losing their two stars Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers.

“I didn’t think especially after watching Durrell and Kalin leave we had anybody to step up. I thought Michigan State was going to be trash,” said Jeanlouis.

Some fans kept their faith and had no uncertainty that the team would develop success.

            Senior Jordan Laney said he thought the team was going to be fine and that Michigan State has a down year every once in a while and last year was the down year so this year had to be an up year.

“ I thought that, that was our down year and we we’re going to be fine this year. We never have two back to back down years think about it,” said Laney.

The first few games were tough said Senior Ray Whearley, but he knew the team would take their loses and learn from them.

“First game was tough, as well as the second one. I knew we would bounce back and learn from our mistakes,” said Whearley.

“Clearly we have done that and made our way from unranked to the top ranked,” said Whearley.

But beyond the believers and unbelievers, the real discussion is, can MSU make it to the final four?

            Many fans believed that it all depended on the teams seeding.

“I think we got a pretty good chance depending on what bracket were in, our match ups and our seeding,” said Ward.

And some said it depends on the seeding and the big ten tournaments.

“In the past when we got number one seed we got eliminated in the first round. I’m pretty sure we’re going to make it to the elite eight if we get a number three seed or lower,” said Laney.

“ But in the past, when we do good in the big ten tournament, we do bad in the NCAA tournament,” said Laney.

No matter how the team is seeded or plays in the tournament, Whearley said he thinks the team is tough enough for the challenge and Izzo is fit for the tournaments.

“The way we are playing with the tough schedule we have, demonstrates our ability to overcome adversity with such a young team, also Izzo is a tournament coach, he is the best coach to lead those guys,” said Whearley.

Junior Alex Yavarski said he thinks the Spartans are capable of reaching the final four, but they’re more of an elite eight team.

“I think they’re an elite eight team, not final four,” said Yavarski.

“I think they have a chance to get there because Tom Izzo is Mr. March, but if they have to face Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina or Syracuse, they will lose,” said Yavarski.

Selection Sunday is just right around the corner on March. 11. and the first tournament game not too far behind taking place March. 13.. When the clock starts rolling the outcome can either be the Spartans coming against adversity or upsetting their fans.