STF Super Awesome Team Previews: #10 Michigan State Spartans

And so we crack the top ten with Tom Izzo's squad. There's something about Drew Neitzel that just looks appropriately Spartan, isn't there?

Team: Michigan State Spartans

Conference: Big Ten

Last Season Recap & Ending: 23-12 (8-8). The Spartans kind of relied on Drew Neitzel to do everything, and if you look at it that way, they overachieved last season. An up-and-down .500 season in the Big Ten was enough to get them into the NCAAs with a 9-seed, but they perished in the second round at the hands of Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.

Key Players Returning: All of the starting five are back. F Raymar Morgan, F Marquise Gray, C Drew Naymick, and G Travis Walton. Oh, and some bald-headed kid named Neitzel.

What's To Love: It's the same team as last year, but we add some super-talented Freshmen to the mix. Tom Izzo promises to speed up the pace, which is an overall benefit to the fan when watching the Big Ten.

What's Not To Love: Neitzel's still playing out of position - he's a natural point. That's all I have.

Key Player: If you've read my earlier previews, you know I hate being obvious and picking the team's best player as the key. Today is no different. PF Marquise Gray needs to play like the man we saw at the end of last season more often. The 6'8" Junior doesn't dominate any category, and disappeared for much of the conference run in 2006-07. If he shows up, the Spartans end up with a much better record and a higher seed.

Best Case: The talent performs up to expectations, and the Spartans go back to the Final Four. It helps a team to know that their star player can and will put the team on his back from time to time, but if those times come few and far between, so much the better.

Worst Case: If the frontcourt continues to struggle and none of the freshmen steps into the gap, there could be a repeat of last year, with a mid-level seed and an early exit. But I doubt it.

STF Prediction: 23-5 (12-4). Texas is the toughest pre-conference matchup, and the Big Ten will be challenging, but I see the Spartans being up to the test. They can win the conference if the breaks roll their way, and can get hot and make the Final Four.