Spartan Hoopla: Michigan State Is a Sweet 16 Team, but Will Things Sour There?

Okay, college basketball junkies—we're here.

It's officially March Madness.

The teams have been selected and the brackets have released—let's get it on.

One of the nation's perennial contenders, the Michigan State Spartans, always command attention this time of year. 

And rightfully so.

Tom Izzo has led his team to the Final Four five times since 1999, and when push comes to shove, it's hard to count them out of the race—no matter what.

The Izzo clan are a No. 5 seed, a seed lower than initially expected, and will face the Aggies of New Mexico State (No. 12 seed) in the opening round of festivities on March 19. 

With the plethora of predictions that are floating around, it's time to analyze Sparty's road to the Final Four.

Can the Spartans make a run to Indianapolis, or will they fall victim in the early rounds of the maniacal 65-team dance party?

Here we go...

First Round: No. 12 New Mexico State—Spokane, Midwest region bracket

Questions of leadership, consistency, and heart have plagued the men of Sparta in 2009-10.

Izzo has plenty of talent on his roster to get to Indy, that's not debatable.

One aspect of the team that can be debated is this: What Spartans will show up for the tournament?

New Mexico State finished third in the WAC during the regular season and went on to topple Utah State (69-63) in the conference tournament championship.

The Aggies' Jahmar Young was one of the nation's elite scorers, and his 20.5 points per game could pose a threat.

The 6'5" junior is a product of Baltimore, a city known for producing physical guards—he fits the bill.

There are four other guys on Marvin Menzie's roster that post double-figures every contest, and he's got another dangerous guard in Jonathan Gibson.

Gibson is a slim, 6'1" scoring machine. He and Young love to drain the 3-ball, and the duo hits nearly 40 percent of them.

Transition long-balls have been Sparty's achilles' heel this season.

Tough defense will make sure the upset-minded Aggies don't advance, but it won't be easy—look for a double-digit Spartan victory somewhere in the 10-12 point range. 

Second Round: No. 4 Maryland

The Terps lost 69-64 in the ACC tournament semifinals.

Don't put too much stock into that loss, because Maryland is dangerous.

Fear the turtle: Gary Williams' group shared the ACC regular season with Mike Krzyzewski's Duke Blue Devils.

Maryland's senior guard Greivis Vasquez is one of the most prolific scorers in the land. Vasquez put up nearly 20 points per game, and he's got the frame to get downright physical: 6'6", 200 pounds.

What about the physical forward Landon Milbourne?

Milbourne is Williams' work-horse. He's capable of clocking in with 32 quality minutes every night. He played 35 in each of Maryland's last two games. Milbourne is another Terp senior—experienced leadership is one of those qualities that can't be coached.

Michigan State and Maryland are two different breeds, but they do stack up well against one another. This one won't be so easy for Sparty, but all hope is not lost. 

Spartans by less than a handful in this one.

Round three: Sweet 16, No. 1 Kansas—St. Louis

Well, well, what do we have here?

Another Sweet 16 match up between MSU and the Kansas Jayhawks?

Interesting.

Last year Kalin Lucas made the rectangular state in the middle of the map lose its breath with his floater in the lane that iced the birds. That shot will forever live in Spartan basketball history as one of the shots.

As the luck of the draw would have it, Izzo and Bill Self meet again.

Kansas is the most complete team in the country. To many, it's the favorite to win the national title.

Revenge, another year of experience, and a motivated Sherron Collins will be what the Izzo clan would face in this brawl.

Cole Aldrich is one of the country's premier big-men—he'll give Draymond Green, Delvon Roe, and Garrick Sherman nightmares.

Sherman matches Aldrich in height, but not in fight.

Michigan State's lack of size will end being its downfall.

There's no Marquise Gray this year.

No Goran Suton.

St. Louis' Sweet 16 bout could be the end of the road for Michigan State. Last year it beat Kansas by five, and this year a similar margin is likely—just not in Sparty's favor. 

March Madness is built around the idea of achieving the impossible.

Is Michigan State a Final Four team? In theory, yes, it is.

In order to get to Indianapolis in April, the Spartans need to undergo drastic changes—and it may be too late for that.