It was back in early March, when everything still made sense in the world of college basketball.
Michigan State was riding a wave of emotion, about to win its fifth in a row, capture a share of a third straight Big Ten championship, celebrate a bittersweet Senior Day with Cassius Winston and head to the postseason with its eye on raising another banner.
The Spartans got the job done that day, beating Ohio State and sending Winston out in grand fashion. The Big Ten championship banner went to the Breslin Center rafters.