Izzo’s secret to success

Michigan State’s talent pool has been drastically different during the Spartans’ national semifinal runs. Michigan State made three straight Final Fours from 1999-2001 with four different players being named to All-American teams — Mateen Cleaves (1998-2000), Morris Peterson (2000), Charlie Bell (2001) and Jason Richardson (2001). So it would be easy to say that Michigan State had the more talented team almost every time it stepped on the floor.

But Michigan State hasn’t had an All-American since 2001 and the Spartans still made three Final Fours (2005, 2009, 2010). So what has been the key to Izzo’s latest success without having college basketball’s most talented players?

In their three most recent Final Four seasons, the Spartans have had at least five players average more than eight points a game — none exceeded 14.8 points.

The balanced scoring made it possible for Michigan State to make this year’s tournament run despite losing leading scorer Kalin Lucas in the first half of the second-round game against Maryland.

Now imagine if Gordon Hayward, Da’Sean Butler or Jon Scheyer were injured during this year’s NCAA Tournament. Could Butler, West Virginia or Duke lose its top scorer and still reach Indianapolis?

Michigan State is also a first-rate rebounding team and has been for years. The Spartans led the Big Ten in rebound margin — by a lot — for each of their last three Final Four seasons: +8.7 (2010), +9.3 (2009) and +6.8 (2005). They’ve done this without a dominant post player in a physical conference.

Izzo has been able to get the most out of the talent he’s had in East Lansing. They play hard, rebound great, defend well and share the basketball.

“Tom does as good a job as anyone of getting guys to excel in roles and embrace their roles,” CBS analyst Greg Anthony said.

It’s always about the team. That’s how Izzo has been able to win with — and without — college basketball’s elite talent.