The pressure only increases exponentially from here.
Third-seeded Michigan State is looking to get back to the Elite Eight for a second consecutive year, but the Spartans have a staunch, second-seeded UConn team in their way. Rotations are usually a lot more top-heavy in the NCAA Tournament, but that may be even more evident as the opponents get tougher and tougher.
There isn’t anything to “save” players for, after all. They will have plenty of time to rest and recuperate after the season is done, but no one wants that time to arrive. MSU is four wins away from a National Championship, at the end of the day, so there is no other option but to empty the tank in every single round and figure it out from there.
Here’s how you might see the minutes get distributed in this one:
The Starting Lineup
The first five on the court of Fears, Scott, Carr, Kohler, and Cooper, will likely remain unchanged. If there were any changes, which would be a bit surprising this late into the season, it would be Trey Fort going at the two-guard spot for Jordan Scott…