Michigan State University (MSU) is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. With a long history of athletic excellence, it has been a perennial powerhouse in college basketball. The question on many fans’ minds is, did MSU make the Sweet 16 this season?
A Look at MSU’s NCAA Tournament History
Michigan State has a long and storied basketball history, which includes multiple Final Four appearances and even a National Championship in 2000. The Spartans have been a fixture in the NCAA Tournament for almost two decades, making the tournament 17 times since 2000.
In the last three years, MSU has made the Sweet 16 twice and the Elite 8 once. This season, however, the Spartans fell short of their goal of making the Sweet 16.
MSU’s 2019-20 Season
The Spartans had high expectations heading into the 2019-20 season, led by one of the nation’s top players, point guard Cassius Winston. After a strong start to the season, the Spartans stumbled in conference play and were unable to secure a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Despite their struggles, the Spartans made it to the Big Ten Tournament final, where they were narrowly defeated by rival Michigan. This left MSU as a five seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they were eliminated in the first round by 11 seed Bradley.
Reasons for MSU’s Early Exit
There are many reasons why MSU did not make the Sweet 16 this season. The most obvious is the absence of Cassius Winston, who was injured in the Big Ten Tournament and was unable to play in the NCAA Tournament.
In addition, the Spartans struggled to find consistency on offense throughout the season. They shot just 43% from the field, which was the second-lowest in the Big Ten. Without an efficient offense, the Spartans were unable to keep up with the more talented teams in the tournament.
Conclusion
Michigan State did not make the Sweet 16 this season, with their early exit from the NCAA Tournament a disappointment for the program and its fans. While the loss of Cassius Winston certainly hurt their chances, the Spartans had trouble finding consistency on offense throughout the season. In the end, their struggles on offense cost them dearly in the tournament.