Getting To Know the Final Four Teams: Michigan State University

The Michigan State Spartans defeated Robert Morris University and Southern California University to advance to the NCAA sweet sixteen. They followed that up by defeating the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks and the overall number one seed Louisville Cardinals.

The Spartans have shown their depth in their victories. MSU has seven players averaging at least 5.8 points per game in the tourney, and can go as far as 11 deep to plug in different players for specific roles.

Kalin Lucas, the Big Ten Player of the Year, is the point guard and the man who runs the show. The sophomore Lucas leads the team in scoring and assists and has proved to be State's best offensive player. He is averaging 12.8 points a game going into the final four.

Goran Suton, the MSU center, led the Big Ten in rebounding and averaged 9.4 points per game this season. The senior has stepped it up in the tournament, he has averaged 14.3 points and 11.5 rebounds, being named the midwest regions MOP. His play will determine if State gets past UConn.

Raymar Morgan is the starting forward and despite his illness he averaged 10.7 points per game this year. Morgan set the tone in the Robert Morris game with a dunk off the opening tip and scored 16 points. The Junior should continue to provide the Spartans with an offensive punch as he is back at full strength. He has struggled with foul trouble in the tourney but is capable of a big game. 

Travis Walton starts at guard. Walton was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. His responsibility is to guard the opposing teams best offensive guard and to help distribute the ball on offense, shown in his 3.2 assists per game. USC dared him to shoot and he killed the Trojans with a career high 18 points. He has shut down all comers so far and the Huskies guards are in trouble.

Delvon Roe is the power forward. Roe is freshman, but is the Spartans' best low post scorer. He also is a strong rebounder, having averaged 5.3 rebounds for the Spartans this year. He has also struggled in the tourney but could step up with attention on frontcourt mate Suton.

Draymon Green is a forward off the bench. Green is a freshman who can rebound and whose offensive game is really starting to come around. He is averaging 9.5 points per game in the tournament. He scored a career high 16 points in the first round game. He is playing like a veteran with big rebounds and scores.

Chris Allen is a three-point specialist. Allen is usually the first played off the bench and provides instant offense. The sophomore averaged 9.0 points per game in the regular season. Teams cannot lay off this sharpshooter trying to double Lucas or Suton.

Durrell Summers provides energy off the bench. Summmers can slash to the basket as well as hit an open three. The sophomore averaged 8.3 points this year for the Spartans. He has provided 8.8 points per game in the tournament.

Marquise Gray is a big man off the bench. Gray is 6'8" and 235 pounds and can bang on the inside. The senior provides leadership and rebounding.

Korie Lucious is a point guard off the bench. Lucious provides another ball handler and distributor to the Spartans. The freshman continues to increase his playing as the season continues.

Idong Ibok is another big man off the bench. Ibok is a strong defender against other teams' bigs. The senior provides coach Izzo with five fouls and rebounding off the bench when needed. He played key minutes defending Kansas big man Cole Aldrich. He should do some banging on Connecticut big man Hasheem Thabeet.

Michigan State is the underdog again against UConn, but will MSU's depth will lead the Spartans to victory again. Who will step up for State this time? They have plenty of options.