Michigan State Spartans Fitting the Bill as Popular Tourney Upset Pick

Michigan State’s overtime loss to Minnesota Friday night was not a shock or an upset. One thing is for sure though: it was coming.

Let’s face it, the Spartans have been one of the most unpredictable teams in the nation—a trait usually reserved for programs still trying to find their identity. But Michigan State is an upper echelon program, whose coach is among the best in the nation.

The team's performance is quite the quandary, considering the remarkable run which was made just one season ago.

The team seemed to come together as the season progressed, winning the Big Ten conference and defeating some really good teams en route to the national championship game. And although they were defeated by a North Carolina squad full of lottery picks, the future seemed as fluorescent as their magical run.

That light has grown dimmer though, and now there are plenty more questions than answers.

How does a team with all of its starters back from being national runners-up play so poorly against weak competition? Are the players putting in the same kind of effort against more feeble competition as they do against stellar competition? Is team chemistry the biggest area of emphasis which must be addressed, as we are on the brink of the “Big Dance”?

The biggest uncertainty is whether coach Tom Izzo can right the ship in such a short period of time. As seeds for the NCAA tournament are going to be announced Sunday evening, coaches and players have to regroup immediately and focus on the opponent at hand.

A team with a coach like Izzo, and a group of talented players who have experience playing together, should not be struggling to beat bottom-feeders like Penn State on its court, nor should they shoot around 50 percent from the free throw line in a conference tournament game against a bubble team.

If Forrest Gump was a college basketball analyst, the Spartans would be a box of chocolates—you just never know what you’re going to get.

And with the entire season on the line, most people would probably bet on the field.