Is Michigan State A Final Four Contender?

How far can Michigan State go in this NCAA Tournament? With their Sweet Sixteen game tonight against Kansas, it is crucial for MSU to pull out a win if they want to play in the Final Four in front of their own fans. I know it's obvious that they have to win the game to advance to the next round, but this years tournament has an extra special meaning for the Spartans. Having home advantage in the Final Four is like having a plate handed to you with a silver spoon on it. The Spartans are heading into tonight's game playing their best basketball of the season, I'm convinced. You know they're playing well when Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Travis Walton is putting up 18 points against Southern Cal, a guy who is only averaging 5.3 ppg this season.So far in the tournament, the Spartans are really playing like the want to make it to Ford Field. They beat Robert Morris easily, but in the game against USC, the Spartans really came through in the last few minutes of the game. I don't mean to be cliche but it was a battle to the wire. The Spartans pushed out a victory in the second half and won 74-69, however, at one point MSU did trail by five.
Tonight, MSU will play the Kansas Jayhawks, who they beat earlier in the season. However, at that time it was January, the Spartans were at home, and it is obvious that both teams have improved since then. Kansas is defending it's National Championship so you know they will be ready to play. The Spartans need to pick it up on offense in order to win tonight. Spartan scoring leader Kalin Lucas only put up ten points against USC, but the key tonight will be Raymar Morgan who only put of three points against USC. Morgan needs to have strong games this weekend because his play could be the deciding factor in a Michigan Sweet 16 exit or a Final Four appearance. In an article written by Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said "the junior forward is having frustrating mood swings -- from melancholy to extremely melancholy." If Michigan State expects to win Morgan needs to get a grip on things and want to make it to the Final Four as much as his coach and team do.

Right now I am in first place for my bracket pool. I have Michigan State in my Final Four, along with Uconn, Pitt, and UNC, however, Michigan State has to want to be there. They are going to have to get past a tough Kansas team and a tough Louisville team, if they beat Arizona. Michigan State has the drive to succeed and if they want it bad enough they will. They have an advantage in not having to travel as far as other teams and they have played in Indianapolis before when they won the NCAA Tournament in 2000. Also, Michigan State knows what could happen if they "March to Motown." The opportunity to win a National Championship in front of a home crowd would be stupid to pass up.

Some key factors you might want to know about Michigan State before their upcoming games are:

1. Michigan State is 7-0 all-time as a 2 seed.

2. The Spartans beat the Jayhawks 75-62 on Jan. 10 in East Lansing.

3. Before the game against USC, Travis Walton hadn't scored in double figures since he had 11 against Kansas.

4. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points, moving Michigan State into the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in 12 years. That's more appearances in the last dozen years of any school besides Duke.

5. In the last 12 years, every Spartan who has stayed for four years has appeared in a Final Four.