No, I’m not comparing teams, but the situations are quite similar to this year’s Michigan State basketball squad and that from 2009-10. How so? They both lost veteran leadership at a crucial point in the season.
Let’s flash it back about seven years. The Spartans finished the regular season 24-7 and lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to fall to 24-8 before the NCAA Tournament. They were disappointed to find out they earned just a No. 5 seed, but they were ready to prove doubters wrong.
The Spartans played 12th-seeded New Mexico State in the first round and snuck out of that contest with a slim three-point victory.