The Michigan State Spartans won the 1999-2000 National Championship with their team leader sidelined for 12 games with a foot injury.  That Spartan team learned how to play without Mateen Cleaves, and other players like Charlie Bell, Mike Chappell, and Jason Richardson elevated their games while Cleaves nursed himself back to health.   That team ultimately lost 4 games without Cleaves in the lineup, but the loss of Cleaves helped the Spartans grow as a team and learn to fight as a team for the battles they would later endure in the NCAA tournament.  Cleaves would be re-injured in the NCAA Championship game, and while Cleaves received treatment, the Spartans in fact increased their lead on Florida before Cleaves returned late in the 2nd half.   Oh, the Final Four takes place in Indianapolis this year, same place the Spartans won the title 10 years ago.

All of that is obviously pure coincidence. However, there is no denying that Sparty needs to grow up, right now. Kalin Lucas has been the one player that Tom Izzo and the team could count on in every single big game they have played in.  He is one of, if not the biggest gamer as time is running down.   His ability to close-out games will be as missed as his general playmaking ability, but this could lead to good things later in March, assuming Lucas is healthy enough to contribute at that time.  The big difference between the Cleaves and Lucas injuries is that Cleaves was back playing at the start of January and able to get himself back in game shape. But, that withstanding, the situations somewhat mirror each other. Michigan State will not win a title without Kalin Lucas in March and early April, but they could win a title without Kalin Lucas in February.

Who will be the players that step up? Who will be this team’s Charlie Bell or Jason Richardson?  Korie Lucious needs to be one of them. He is the only true PG on the team right now.  He has the speed and outside shooting ability that the team will need.  He is not nearly as quick off the dribble as Lucas, and he cannot navigate through the trees in the paint like Kalin can, but he needs to be more efficient than he has been.  Lucious has been a streaky player since arriving in East Lansing; now he needs to have the hottest streak of his still young career.

Raymar Morgan?  I don’t even think he needs to be discussed…been enough articles about him needing to step up each of his 4 years.

Tom Izzo has said that Chris Allen is the best shooter he has ever recruited.  Nobody on the team has the range that Allen has, but he has yet to put it to use.  Much like Morgan, Allen has a tendency to become extremely passive on offense.   Conversely, his defense is tenacious now. He has taken over the roll left by Travis Walton of checking the most dynamic wing player on opposing offenses.  This is odd, or just a sign of maturity, because Izzo would routinely pull Allen for his defensive breakdowns when he was a freshman and sophomore.  One of the better ball-handlers on the team, Allen will be asked to initiate the offense more frequently depending on the up-in-the-air status of Kalin.  But initiating it will not be enough.  He will need to stretch the defense with his range to help the next person who commands the ball.

Delvon Roe’s knees can no longer be an excuse.  The explosion is there, but finishing the play needs to be there as well.  Roe has had flashes of being a dynamic inside scorer. His athleticism allows him to run the open court, and he has been a great offensive rebounder. He misses too many opportunities, frustrated both his coach and the Spartan fans.  Izzo has done well recruiting 2nd tier guys, but Roe was supposed to be his first stud recruit since Zach Randolph.   He was given a pass last year coming off of micro-fracture surgery on both knees, but his health hasn’t been the issue this season.  Roe is more talented than most big men in the Big Ten, and he needs to fulfill that potential now because besides Draymond Green, State doesn’t have another low post scorer.  With Lucas out, a big man has to pick up the slack.

That 2000 team was special.  They were special because they not only overcame the adversity of losing Cleaves, but they galvanized and won the National Title to top it off.  One could argue that they might have stormed through the season had Cleaves not been hurt.  They were essentially the same team that went to the Final Four the year before, minus Antonio Smith and Jason Klein.  However, what made them even more special is that they still remained one of the best teams in college basketball without their leader and catalyst.  They became an even tougher team because of it.  There is so much similarity with the 2000 team and the 2010 team.  This year’s team is essentially the same team, minus Goran Suton and Travis Walton.  They have experience, but need to come together more than ever now while their leader recoups from his injury.  If they are able to withstand the body blows in this last month of the Big Ten schedule, Michigan State might be ready for another magical run in Indianapolis.

*There is a chance that I am a completely delusional homer.

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