The Flintstones. Mateen Cleaves, everybody’s All-American, hobbling off the court in the national championship game, then back on it, refusing to miss any more of his title dream than he’d have to. MSU head coach Tom Izzo with his players in his arms, weeping as he watched the nets being cut down in Indianapolis.

Those memories were instilled by greatness — a team that defined chemistry and teamwork. They had the unselfish, clutch leader (Cleaves), the high-flying and sharp-shooting swingman (Morris Peterson), the underrated post player (Andre Hutson) and more glue guys (Charlie Bell, A.J. Granger, Jason Richardson, Adam Ballinger) than Izzo could shuffle in and out.

Heck, fans even remember the guys who came on when Izzo emptied the bench (Mat Ishbia) at the end of blowouts.

It was a team that never flirted with memorable; it rewrote the definition of it.

The senior class finished with three straight Big Ten championships and two trips to the Final Four. The thought of leaving early for the NBA never crossed the minds of any of those players. They were the epitome of a cohesive college team.

This year’s MSU team doesn’t have the egos like other teams around the country but even Izzo will admit that this season’s group has had some trouble finding that cohesion.

This year’s team is making its mark on the history books with an astounding record, but the statistics don’t lie.

This year’s team had two players with scoring averages in double figures — Neitzel and sophomore forward Raymar Morgan. The 1999-2000 team had four — and one averaging more than nine per game.

The national championship team outscored opponents by 16 points and outrebounded the opposition by an average of 12 boards per game, another legacy left by the Flintstones era.

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams, the Spartans became the first group to defeat all six of its opponents by double figures. It just went to show that a team known for its nitty-gritty defense and ability to snag rebounds could still put up some points.

For this year’s team to measure up to Spartans legends past, there are many obstacles to be hurdled. Importantly, it needs to find chemistry and cohesion by tournament time and it needs a championship to show for it. Until then, the Flintstones still hold the standard.