Ranked #2 to start the college basketball season. Coach Tom Izzo was quoted by local media saying, "This possibly could be the best team we have had here at Michigan State." Unfortunately for the Michigan State Spartans the regular season started and what was supposed to be a run at the NCAA Championship turned into at one point a 23-point deficit to UCLA after sneaking into March Madness as a #10 seed. Despite all the hype to begin the season, Sparty failed to reach the round of 32 for the only the 4th time in 14 years (first since 2006).

The first round exit at the hand of the Bruins was a story book ending to the season for Michigan State. Tom Izzo's squad had 1200+ minutes of tournament experience matching up to UCLA's combined 32 total minutes (made up of two players with zero points lifetime in March Madness). The game-plan outside of the standard first five scripted plays was simple: "play ball". Michigan State went into this game looking to push the ball, play up-tempo and leave nothing on the court. A win over UCLA would make up for a disaster of a season and be like any past Spartan team where their game is amplified ten fold come March Madness. In the end, the star of the team Kalin Lucas traveled to put an end to any miracle comeback and ended both the season for the Spartans and his career at Michigan State.

The system at Michigan State is built on a foundation of experienced players staying the length of their college careers and in the process allowing the younger guys to follow their lead and mature. Unlike other national powerhouse teams who continually have to reload when sophomores jump to the NBA, Michigan State has kept their core players for the full four year college career. Despite the success Tom Izzo has had, the fact is Michigan State is no Duke or North Carolina when it comes to recruiting. Unlike the Tar Heels or Blue Devils who get the top player from California, New York or Texas, Michigan State has historically relied on local players (IE The Flintstones) and surrounding states. For example the squad Izzo called his "best team" was made up of nine players from Michigan, three from Ohio and one from Indiana. Have to give Izzo credit for his success,  but the best of Michigan can't compete with the best from the United States every single season. Even after the run Michigan State has had on a national level in terms of wins and losses, the fact remains they still can't recruit the top players on a national level.

So what now for Michigan State? The Spartans lose Summers, Lucas and Kebler. The Big 10 is now officially owned by the Ohio State Buckeyes who are bringing in nationally coveted recruiting classes like the football program. Even though the 2010 class Michigan State brought in was ranked in the top 15 nationally, every player was either from Michigan, Ohio or Indiana. Recruiting experts do not have Michigan State ranked in the top 15 classes for 2011 and they are only getting one player ranked in the top 100 (Branden Dawson from Indiana). With both Ohio State and Illinois reloading with better recruiting classes, it is safe to say the Michigan State dominance  over the Big 10 is over. Toss in a young Michigan team that looks to be the starting block of rebuilding the Wolverines program, there are multiple Big 10 teams that could be ranked ahead of Sparty at the start of next season. After being ranked #2 to start the season and being expected to be playing in the Final Four, Tom Izzo said it best when he said after the loss,"It's probably a fitting way to end."