Once again, the Michigan State Spartans Men’s basketball team has surprised many bracket followers by making the Sweet Sixteen.  The over-achieving Spartans, under the leadership of coach Tom Izzo, face Northern Iowa in the next round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.   MSU must feel relieved not to be facing the overall number one seeded Kansas Jayhawks, who were sent home early by Northern Iowa, but is it better to face Goliath, or the team that slayed Goliath?   Also of concern is starting point guard Kalen Lucas’ injury to his Achilles tendon, which will in all likelihood make him unavailable to play in the rest of the tournament. But without Lucas, MSU is deep, so long as other players step up like they did on Sunday.

Sparty is looking forward to getting past the Panthers for a chance to play Big Ten Co-Champion Ohio State, if they are successful in their next round game against Tennessee.

Michigan State is the last remaining team from last year’s Final Four, with Villanova’s loss to St. Marys, and UConn and North Carolina missing the tournament entirely.  All in all, a great season for the Spartans.  GO STATE!