The core-four, as head coach Tom Izzo calls it, account for 72% of all MSU scoring. Each of them has made a name for themselves in a different area of the game: Carr in transition, Cooper on defense, Fears finding open teammates and Kohler, who does a little bit of everything. 

“Last year our whole battle cry was strength in numbers, and we had numbers and we kept rotating people in there,” Izzo said. “It's not been quite the same this year, even though we are utilizing our subs.” 

Don’t count out NDSU, though. The Bison enter 8-2 in their past 10 games and are the Summit League regular-season and tournament champions. Their strengths come primarily from beyond the arc, where they attempt 25 3-pointers per game and shoot 36.5%. 

MSU has shown a tendency to struggle defending the 3-point line over the past two weeks, not an encouraging sign against a hot mid-major opponent. Opponents have scored 87 or more points in each of their past three games and have averaged 75 points per game since the beginning of February. MSU needs a strong defensive effort along the perimeter to keep its hopes of a deep tournament run alive. 

"What makes them scary is they're well-coached, they've got good players,” Izzo said. “But I think what makes them scary is this is their Christmas, Fourth of July. They get a chance to pit themselves against the people they watch on TV.” 

NDSU is led by Andy Stefonowicz, a six-foot-two guard who shoots 38.7% from three. Fears and freshman Jordan Scott will see minutes guarding NDSU’s Stefonowicz. Scott has been great in 10 starts in the backcourt, but has slipped in MSU’s last two games. Scott is averaging 4 points a game over the last four games with little help elsewhere. 

His biggest strength all season has been the plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet. MSU can count on him being the most aggressive and effortful player on the court at all times. When it’s lose and go home, MSU needs Scott to play with the intensity he has all season. 

That effort can’t come without the core four. MSU’s captains have stressed how much they aim to lead by example with six newcomers on the roster. The group came within six points of a Final Four berth last year and enters this tournament with a bitter taste in its mouth. 

"For all the older guys that come back from the previous season, there's a sense of urgency, that we're never satisfied with where we left off, especially from last year,” Kohler said. “Last year was a heartbreaking loss. But having that motivation and that sense of urgency going straight into June, we never lose that sense of urgency, and neither does Coach. That's why we bring it every day." 

The NCAA Tournament is an entirely different atmosphere from a regular-season contest. The stakes are always high, and there’s no telling how any team will fare. Izzo said he’s just glad he gets to do it all over again and compete in his 28th-straight championship. 

“Once you've been a national champ, once you've gone to the Final Fours, once you see how incredible moving on in March Madness is, there's nothing like March Madness,” Izzo said.