But the Spartans are a unique case, as seemingly the entire team is capable of missing free throws in clutch time. 

Indiana nearly completed a comeback win against MSU last Saturday by liberally fouling the Spartans late in the game, and Ohio State whittled MSU's 17-point lead down to four on Friday before the Spartans closed out the victory.

The Spartans, one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country, will likely see more teams employ the "Hack a Spartan" strategy at the end of games, but head coach Tom Izzo isn't worried.

"I've got some guys that are not as good free throw shooters," Izzo said after the Spartans advanced to the semifinal round on Friday. "Like I said, I feel comfortable how we're shooting them in practice, I feel comfortable when a Travis, when a (Denzel), when a Bryn is at the line. Best I got and I believe in them."

Izzo joked that he thought he would have to use reverse psychology to get the Spartans to hit their free throws when Ohio State cut MSU's lead to 61-57 with just over three minutes left, but MSU made seven of their next eight free throws to preserve the lead. 

"I was thinking, gee whiz, do I use reverse psychology and tell my guys to miss the free throw like we did at Indiana, or do I stick to my guns and say would you please make it and fall to my knees or would I threaten?" Izzo said. "I had three choices, and I just I don't know, we made a couple of them, so I decided to just stay out of it."

Junior guard Denzel Valentine said the Spartans have to learn to play through fatigue at the end of games.

"You can't just play good for 35 (minutes), cause they can get some shots," Valentine said. "I think (Ohio State) hit like three shots back to back, we turned it over and next thing you know it's a nine point game. We just have to play well for 40 minutes instead of 35."