Seven reasons No. 1 Michigan State will reach the Final Four

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo knew this team was special before the season even began.
"There's much more talent," he said in July, comparing the 2015-16 roster to last season's surprise Final Four team. The only question was whether that talent would mesh and equate to wins early on. After all, the Spartans didn't hit their stride until March last season. And they lost mainstays Branden Dawson and Travis Trice. "It could take some time for us to come together," he said then.
After nine games, the picture is becoming clearer. Undefeated Michigan State looks the part of a Final Four team and, even if it's December, like a national title contender. After losses by Kentucky and Maryland last week, the Spartans have taken over the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and the AP poll.
"Michigan State was a Final Four team last year and certainly a Final Four type of team this year," Arizona coach Sean Miller said in the Wooden Legacy Classic.
Though Izzo is quick to bat down early season rankings and projections, there's a strong chance his team enters Big Ten play unbeaten: The toughest remaining non-conference test is a home game against Florida on Saturday.
"I told my guys we'll see how we handle that early success right now," Izzo said after a dominant win against Boston College."Now we're going from hunting to being hunted. Teams are going to be giving us their best game."
Boston College coach Jim Christian said after his team lost by 31 points, "they are the best team in the country." Boise State coach Leon Rice made a similar proclamation following his team's 77-67 loss, tabbing Michigan State one of the "best defensive teams in the country." And Providence coach Ed Cooley was in full agreement after the Spartans pulled away from the Friars, 77-64, to win the Wooden Legacy. "I think their experience really showed down the stretch," Cooley said.
It's difficult to argue. Here are seven reasons Michigan State will be in Houston come April with a legitimate chance to cut down the nets.

 Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo is congratulated after winning his 500th game in a 99-68 win over the Boston College Eagles at Titan Gym. (Photo: Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 1: Tom Izzo

The Hall of Famer earned his 500th win on Thanksgiving, and his résumé — seven Final Four appearances and 18 NCAA tournament bids — speaks for itself. Izzo knows how to get his players to buy in and he's one of the best Xs and Os coaches in the game. John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski win titles with top-rated recruiting classes. Izzo optimizes lesser talent (MSU's classes are consistently outside the top 10) to keep Michigan State in the title-contending mix.

No. 2: Denzel Valentine

The early favorite to be national player of the year because of these numbers: 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists a game — including  29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists against a talented Kansas team Nov. 17. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the Wooden Legacy, starting with another triple double — 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists — against Boston College. He followed that up with 32 points against Boise State. And he scored 11 of his 25 points in the final 5:06 to help lift MSU past Louisville on Dec. 2. "He's phenomenal," Christian said. "When your best player plays that way, it's contagious."

Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (left) celebrates after Michigan State won the Wooden Legacy. (Photo: Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 3: Guard depth

Complementing Valentine in the backcourt are three other elite guards. Bryn Forbes — 51% from from three-point range — is "one of the best shooters in the country" according to Izzo. And Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. is a feisty point guard who vastly improved his jump shot in the offseason and provides a strong floor presence. Still-settling Eron Harris, who averaged 17.4 points a game at West Virginia two seasons ago, is starting to catch on as a key reserve — hitting clutch shots in crucial moments against Providence (finishing with 12 points) and helping to drive a 43-point blowout of Binghamton (11 points) on Dec. 5.

No. 4: Teamwork

The Spartans average 23.0 assists a game to lead the nation. Christian summed it up perfectly: "The beautiful thing about the way they play is that they have no bad possessions. They understand what they are trying to get and they're very unselfish and patient enough to get a great shot. When their post players play well, they are a lot to handle."

No. 5: Veterans

Valentine and forward Matt Costello (7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg) are seniors reached the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight and the Final Four in their three seasons. Forbes, a transfer from Cleveland Stare in 2014, also is a senior. Starters Javon Best and Nairn are showing solid freshman-to-sophomore improvement. The least experienced player is five-star recruit Deyonta Davis (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who's bound to keep improvin and provides major muscle on the glass. As a team, Michigan State ranks third nationally in rebounding margin (17.6).

Michigan State Spartans forward Kenny Goins (25) and forward Matt Costello (10) and guard Bryn Forbes (5) and guard Denzel Valentine (45) and guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) huddle near basket during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. (Photo: Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 6: The Big Ten

The Big Ten is one of the nation's best conferences  top to bottom, evidenced by a 6-4 decision in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Maryland will be one of the favorites to win the league with perhaps the most complete starting lineup in the country. And though Indiana and Wisconsin have struggled in the non-conference slate, they'll be much stronger by January. Purdue, Michigan and Iowa are the other likely NCAA tournament teams,  but others should emerge. By March, there's no question MSU will be competition-tested.

No. 7: They're just getting started

Izzo, himself, sees serious potential. "What impresses me, is that I believe we still have a higher ceiling that we can reach,: he said. "It's great to be around guys who like each other. I bet if you ask each guy on this team, they will tell you something great about one of their teammates. It's not the norm, and this is a special group of players."