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NCAA Tournament: Storylines For Every Sweet 16 Team

By Nathan Giese

Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; The Virginia Cavaliers bench celebrate after scoring against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; The Virginia Cavaliers bench celebrate after scoring against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Virginia Cavaliers: Was Michigan State Their Only Kryptonite?

For all the success Tony Bennett has had at Virginia over the last few years, it’s been Michigan State standing in their way at every turn. The selection committee, with its sense of humor, decided to put the Spartans in the Cavaliers’ way once again this season.

Fortunately for Virginia, Michigan State was bounced before they could get to the Cavaliers and be another roadblock to their path to the Final Four.

With the Spartans no longer a threat, is this the year Virginia finally breaks through and turns that regular-season success into postseason glory?

Iowa State presents its own test for the Cavaliers, and it definitely won’t be easy to get past the Cyclones. But Iowa State is not Michigan State, and while the Spartans only had five points on the Cavaliers in those two NCAA tournament wins, it’s five points Virginia does not have to worry about.

Was Michigan State the one thing standing in Virginia’s way? Or was it merely a coincidence?

Next: Tired Legs For Iowa State?