NCAA Tournament: Five Reasons the Hurricanes Can Get to the Sweet 16

If the Miami Hurricanes are going to return to the Sweet 16, they are going to have to likely defeat two National Championship Coaches to get there. They open with Michigan State and Tom Izzo to likely be followed with Bill Self and Kansas.

The Spartans are making their 32 NCAA Appearance and their 20th under Izzo. They Spartans have a 63-29 record all-time and 49-18 in 19 NCAA Tournament appearances under Izzo.

As Canes Warning examined earlier in the week, the Spartans finished 19-14 and 10-8 in the Big Ten. They were just 2-7 against the top 25, but 4-2 against teams 26-50.

When we initially took a look at the Miami and Michigan State match-up we mentioned that the schools have only played once before. The Hurricanes defeated 67-59 in the Big Ten ACC Challenge on November 28, 2012 in Coral Gables.

Throughout the season, much has been made of the Hurricanes youth. The Spartans are even younger than Miami. Three of Michigan State’s top four scorers are freshman. The Spartans have started 11 different players this season. That’s two more players than the Hurricanes have on scholarship.

Their starting lineup is made up of a Senior, Junior and three freshmen that includes Bridges. He is joined by forward Nick Ward and Freshman point guard Cassius Winston.