Team preview: Michigan State

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(Information in this team report is as of October 1.)

Four years ago, Tom Izzo and the Spartans were squarely in rebuilding mode, coming off three straight Final Four appearances and breaking in a crew of freshmen trying to replace a nucleus of seniors lost to graduation.

Four years later, Izzo and the Spartans are back where they started, more or less, coming off another Final Four berth and looking to replace that same crew of freshmen, who grew into a new nucleus that brought the program back to its usual lofty perch among the national basketball powers. Only this time, the building blocks are already in place, and the next generation of Spartan stars aren't green freshmen but experienced sophomores and juniors.

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