However, there’s one MSU team that has crept quietly to No. 9 in the national rankings, beat Michigan in 16 of the last 17 meetings and won 13 consecutive games.

The women’s basketball team.

I know, who cares about women’s basketball.

How about MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo, the man who Spartan sports fans idolize, does he care?

“A lot of people said to me over the years, you know, you got to carry the flag (for MSU sports),” Izzo said. “I told (MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant), you know, she’s carrying the flag right now.”

That is exactly what Merchant’s Spartans (15-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) are doing, carrying the flag and leading the way for MSU sports right now, and it seems they have embraced their role.

After losing freshman center — and Allyssa DeHaan fill-in — Madison Williams to a torn ACL before the season even began, the Spartans had days to completely redesign their offensive and defensive game plans.

Missing a 6-foot-7 McDonald’s All-American, the team developed what has become one of the best transition games in the country this season.

It starts with junior forward Lykendra Johnson, who after playing small forward last season, moved to take the vacated center position.

She rips down rebounds and delivers such powerful putbacks that junior forward Delvon Roe must be asking her for advice.

Don’t believe me? Just ask the U-M fans who witnessed her play Sunday. They left Crisler Arena with their mouths gaping, shocked and astounded, as if they just found out WalMart had gone out of business.

From there, you have senior guard Brittney Thomas, who I refer to as the Ray Lewis of the women’s basketball team. She is easily the emotional leader of the team and when she makes a play, you know how she feels about it.

Screaming whenever she drives to the basket, and making the shot while fouled.

Cheering for her teammates as she watches from the bench, even if the game is a blowout.

Basically, she plays with heart and that’s why she is so crucial to this team.

As senior forward Kalisha Keane said after Thomas had just iced the game with six consecutive free throws at Michigan, it was like déjà vu. She’s seen it time and time again from Thomas.
Coming off the bench, the Spartans have struck gold with Taylor Alton.

So far this season, Alton is 8-for-8 at the free throw line and has shot an amazing 57 percent from behind the arc. Whenever Alton pulls up for a three, you know something good is about to happen.
Don’t get caught up, however, in her shooting ability.

To see minutes from Merchant you have to be an excellent defender and countless times the coach has praised Alton’s ability without the ball in her hands.

Finally, is Keane, who is the team’s go-to player. She is willing to do whatever to help her team win. Whether it’s set picks, grab rebounds or do what she does best and score points, she never complains about her role.

Keane is the glue to this 15-1 team. As Johnson struggled to find her groove at the beginning of the season, Keane had eight consecutive games with double-digit points.

That’s why they are capable of carrying the flag for MSU sports. Lacking the height, everyone counted them out. Another second round loss at best, right?
The NCAA Tournament success remains to be seen, but no one is crossing them out now. Each player has conformed to whatever has been asked of them.

Even freshman guard Annalise Pickrel, who moved to forward because they needed her — standing at 6-foot-3 — under the basket.

Maybe for Spartan fans, it’s like watching the San Antonio Spurs over the 2011 Miami Heat. Not the same excitement.

_But maybe for now, they can give fans some hope, because they’re the ones you can rely on.
Anthony Odoardi is a State News sports reporter. He can be reached atodoardia@msu.edu_