NCAA Basketball...

Michigan St. is ready. Last Sunday it was a win over Wisconsin and this Sunday it was a win over Illinois at Assembly Hall. And with the 74-66 victory over Illinois, they clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title. After coming into the season with high expectations, the Spartans got smashed by Maryland and North Carolina in the early weeks of the season, and then fell under the radar. Since those losses, they're 22-3. Tom Izzo, one of the best coaches in the nation, finally has the team buying into the system, defending, and everyone on the roster is performing and executing their roles. 

The Spartans, when playing at their best - the way the have been over the past week or so - have the depth, talent, and coaching to hang with anybody in the country. Outside of North Carolina, the Spartans are arguably the deepest team in the nation. They're loaded with guards, including Kalin Lucas, Travis Walton, Chris Allen, and Durrell Summers, to go along with versatile forwards Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan, a centers, Goran Suton and Marquise Gray. The 6-foot, speedy Lucas and 6-10 Goran Suton are the keys. Lucas' to push the rock, penetrate and finish, and knock down open jumpers make him the catalyst to the Spartans offense, which is predicated on moving the ball down the court and scoring in their secondary break. Suton, who I swear has been there for 8 years, is the anchor for Michigan St. on the interior. He's not a shot blocker at all, but his post defense and ability to clean the glass must be on point for the Spartans to win games. And they have been - 16 points and 10 boards vs. Wisconsin and 8 and 10 vs. Illinois. It's not his scoring that they need, but his presence must be felt. 

What makes the Spartans most dangerous is their balance. Anyone can be called on to step up. They are legitimately 10 or 11 guys deep, and again, Tom Izzo's coaching cannot be undermined. Just watch how hard the Spartans pressure the ball on D and the intensity they play with. Watch how the wings run the floor every possession. Watch the set plays you see over and over week in and week out. Their success is predicated on execution. If that happens, there's a good chance they'll be playing in Detroit.