By AP
INDIANAPOLIS – One major injury is usually enough to derail a team come NCAA tournament time. Three? Better plan for some quality time on the couch, not a trip to the Final Four.
With apologies to hometown favorite Butler, the Spartans might be the most unlikely team in Indianapolis.
The starting point guard is on the bench after blowing out his Achilles. Another starter is playing on a torn meniscus, which causes such excruciating pain "it feels like somebody is doing surgery on it." Yet another key player has a bum foot.
Michigan State looks more like a M-A-S-H unit than a national title contender and has gone through 19 - and counting - different lineups. Yet here they are, the only squad from last year's Final Four to earn a repeat appearance.