Advertisement

Michigan State clinches Tom Izzo's most unlikely Final Four appearance

The battle between two of March's most successful coaches was in the hands of one of the most unlikely players on the floor.

Fouled on a put-back attempt by Michigan State's Marvin Clark with 4.9 seconds remaining and his team trailing by one, Louisville center Mangok Mathiang had the chance to send the Cardinals to the Final Four by making two free throws.

[DraftKings: Play Fantasy College Basketball – Draft your team today!]

The 48 percent foul shooter's first attempt bounced off the back rim and fell through, drawing a wince from Michigan State alum Magic Johnson. The second bounced hard off the back rim and caromed out, giving the Spartans new life.

Seventh-seeded Michigan State took full advantage of its good fortune, escaping with a 76-70 victory over fourth-seeded Louisville to send Tom Izzo to the Final Four for the seventh time in his tenure. The Spartans will be underdogs regardless of who emerges from the South Region, whether it's top-seeded Duke or second-seeded Gonzaga.

The three players who have carried Michigan State in this tournament all had a hand in the Spartans' latest hard-fought win. Travis Trice scored 17 points and dished out five assists, Denzel Valentine had 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Branden Dawson had nine points, 11 rebounds and the game's biggest basket, a put-back of a Bryn Forbes miss that gave Michigan State a four-point lead with 36 seconds left in overtime.

That Michigan State is going back to the Final Four is surprising given the talent it lost last spring and the recruits it has recently swung and missed on.

Gary Harris, Adreian Payne and Keith Appling all departed after the Spartans' Elite Eight campaign a year ago. Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander, Tyus Jones, Tyler Ulis and James Blackmon are among the many elite prospects who spurned Izzo when he tried to recruit them as potential replacements.

Michigan State didn't notch a single notable win in November and December, but the Spartans began to jell in Big Ten play. Improved team defense, the development of frontcourt players Gavin Schilling and Clark, and Trice's emergence as a go-to scorer carried the Spartans to a third-place finish in the Big Ten and an appearance in the conference tournament title game.

In the NCAA tournament, Michigan State ousted Georgia in the opening round, upset second-seeded Virginia for the second straight year and then outlasted third-seeded Oklahoma in the Sweet 16. The Spartans fell behind Louisville by eight points at halftime and surrendered 28 to guard Wayne Blackshear, but they rallied by keeping the Cardinals out of the paint and riding their three stars to another memorable March win.

- - - - - - -

Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!