If Michigan State wins on Saturday afternoon, the Spartans will have begun the season 12-0, matching the best start to a season in school history with the 2000-01 Final Four team. That’s quite a feat for the No. 1 team in the nation that began the season as an overlooked 13th-ranked squad.
Losing guys like Travis Trice and Branden Dawson from a Final Four team in 2014-15 looked to be a big factor on the success, or lack thereof, from the current squad. However, Denzel Valentine and Co. have exceeded all expectations and are beginning to look like a top national title contender.