In a sense, a torn Achilles’ tendon suffered early in last season’s NCAA Tournament by 2008-09 Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas was a good thing for the Michigan State Spartans. Why is that? Because Sparty made it to its second consecutive Final Four even without their star point guard, and the injury pretty much assured the Lucas wouldn’t leave for the NBA after last season.

And the senior is back and already has been tabbed the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year for the second time as he looks to make MSU the first program since UCLA in 2006-08 to reach three Final Fours in a row. Prior to the Bruins, the Spartans are the only other program to have advanced to three straight Final Fours since 1999, having also made it from 1999-2001.

While it was a sure thing that Lucas would return this year, it definitely wasn’t for Head Coach Tom Izzo, as he was heavily courted by the Cleveland Cavaliers before turning the down the chance to possibly coach LeBron James – Izzo reportedly never was able to speak to James about whether he was staying in Cleveland so that played a big role in Izzo passing (Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is an MSU alum). Now Izzo says his days of thinking of leaving East Lansing for an NBA job are over. But he certainly will continue to get offers as he already has led MSU to six Final Fours and one national title in the past 12 years.

Overall the Spartans return three starters from the squad that tied for the Big Ten regular-season title with a 14-4 record in conference play and a 28-9 overall record. The Big Ten coaches and media have picked Sparty to win the stacked conference this season. With a core of Lucas, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green, Korie Lucious and Delvon Roe, you can see why MSU starts the season No. 2 in the national polls. The Spartans return 71.7 percent of their scoring, 72.9 percent of their rebounding and 76.9 percent of their assists from 2009-10.

Michigan State College Basketball Offseason Changes

As noted above, the two big moves were keeping Lucas and Izzo in green and white. Izzo also welcomes what is a Top 10 recruiting class led by big man Adreian Payne and guard Keith Appling, who will both be regulars in the rotation right away. However, one of those prized freshmen, Russell Byrd, is out with a broken foot. The two main losses from last year’s team were forward Raymar Morgan, who used up his eligibility, and guard Chris Allen, who was supposed to be back for his senior season after averaging 8.4 points and 2.2 rebounds and leading the team in three-pointers. But Allen was booted from the team and transferred.

Michigan State Basketball Predictions: Outlook

The Big Ten looks like the best conference in the country with MSU, Purdue and Ohio State all expected to be national title contenders. All three would have started the preseason in the Top 5 of the polls, too, but Purdue slipped down a bit because of the loss of Robbie Hummel. That injury and the Buckeyes’ loss of 2009-10 Big Ten Player of the Year Evan Turner should open the door wide for the Spartans to win the conference. And there’s no reason they won’t go back to the Final Four.

Michigan State Spartans Basketball Schedule

The Spartans open the season on Friday against Eastern Michigan – Lucious was suspended for that one because of a DUI arrest. As usual Izzo has put together a very tough nonconference schedule, including games against ranked teams Duke (should be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup), Syracuse and Texas. Including the Big Ten teams on the schedule, nine different Spartan opponents or potential opponents are ranked in at least one of the two preseason polls.

Michigan State Spartans College Basketball Futures Odds

Sparty is 9/1 on Bodog to win the national championship – second only to Duke – and the even-money favorite to win the Big Ten.

Michigan State Spartans College Basketball Picks and Predictions

I think Sparty has a great chance of reaching the National Championship game this season and there is some nice value in them winning it all, even at low odds of 9/1.

Strike Point Sports is looking forward to another big profitable college basketball picks season. With four winning seasons and $100 bettors making more than $20K during that stretch, college basketball handicapping is one of SPS’s big moneymakers. In the last four years his college picks have garnered +413 units and last season he picked up +104 Units. SPS’s picks against the college basketball point spreads are always guaranteed to make a profit, or we work for free until they do.