You heard it here first: Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans will be back in the Final Four next year.

Even Izzo was surprised that a Michigan State team that frankly, wasn't all that talented and was also hit with a couple of key injuries, somehow managed to win 23 games a year ago while walking the ball up the floor the majority of the time.

``I pulled the hair out of my head having to walk it up, but I had no choice," Izzo said.

Izzo's credentials are impressive. He won the national title in 2000 and has also been to a trio of other Final Fours in his dozen seasons at the helm in East Lansing.

Everyone is back - and Izzo is adding a trio of key freshman in point guard Kalin Lucas and wings Durrell Summers and Chris Allen.

This will allow Izzo to get back to the trademark of his best teams: Getting up and down the floor. The Spartans have the personnel to be able to press and run - after makes and misses.

``We're not re-inventing how we play," Izzo told FOXSports.com. "We're just getting back to how we do play."

``Every Final Four we've been, we've been a running team," Izzo added. "Our system is geared to it. That's what makes Kalin so important. He's one of the quickest guys we've ever had."

Look for Lucas, a Chris Paul-type, and Drew Neitzel to play together in the backcourt. Lucas' presence will not only allow Neitzel to play off the ball, but also to be fresh towards the end of the season.

``He'll be more effective," Izzo said of Neitzel.

Summers may not be Jason Richardson, but he's a big-time athlete. Allen, a Georgia native whose aunt and uncle live next door to ex-Spartan star Magic Johnson's parents, is versatile and makes it look easy.

Combo forward Raymar Morgan had a solid year - when he was healthy. Post player Goran Suton was productive and has improved - and Izzo is hopeful that big man Marquise Gray will be at full-strength.

That'll give Izzo, along with guard Travis Walton, a team that goes at least eight deep - and maybe even more if you include big man Drew Naymick, who played 21.3 minutes per game last season.

``We won't have a drop-off and we'll be able to keep guys fresher and put a little more pressure on teams defensively," Izzo said. "We also won't have to play one style. We can get out and run or play slower if we need to."

Michigan State's Big Ten schedule will also be beneficial this season after having played the top two teams twice and the bottom four teams just once each of the past two seasons. The non-conference slate won't be as stacked as in the past, but the Spartans will play N.C. State at home in addition to Texas, BYU and Bradley on the road - and also a potential matchup against Kansas and/or UCLA in the Guardians Classic.

CONLEY WORKING, DAEQUAN COOKING

Mike Conley Jr., who helped lead Ohio State to the national title game this past season as a freshman, worked out for Memphis and is slated to head to Chicago for a workout on Saturday for the Bulls.

His father and former track and field star, Mike Conley Sr., told FOXSports.com that his son will work out for Milwaukee (Monday), Minnesota (Wednesday) and he's tentatively scheduled to go to Atlanta days before the draft on June 25.

The range for Conley is anywhere from 3-11, but don't be shocked to see Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard try and make a play for the poised floor leader. Conley and Greg Oden have impressive throughout high school, AAU and last year in college - and it's no secret that Pritchard would love to dump Zach Randolph.

The elder Conley also said that Conley's former teammate, Daequan Cook, has been extremely busy. Cook has yet to hire an agent (which will presumably be Conley) and has already worked out for Phoenix, both Los Angeles teams, Seattle, Washington, New York, New Jersey and is in Philadelphia today. He canceled a workout with Detroit and will head to the west coast for Utah, San Antonio and Portland before going to Miami.

TIGERS DEN

Give Memphis coach John Calipari and his staff credit for loading up the Tigers non-conference slate.

The latest addition was a four-year series against Georgetown, who like Memphis, should be a Final Four contender next season. The two teams will play at FedExForum in Memphis this season.

The Tigers will also face Arizona, Tennessee and Gonzaga - all at home - this year.

COASTAL FLOODING

There will be no shortage of candidates for the vacancy left at Coastal Carolina when Buzz Peterson left to join his buddy, Michael Jordan, as the director of player personnel of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Peterson is pushing assistant Jamie Kachmarik, but a pair of South Carolina assistants - Ken Potosnak and Rick Duckett (he was a finalist two years ago when Peterson got the gig) along with former Clemson coach Cliff Ellis and current Charleston Southern coach Barclay Radebaugh are also in the mix.
 
CARROLL WITHDRAWS

As reported here last month, Utah State Jaycee Carroll was testing the waters and was dead-set on returning for his senior season. The sweet-shooting guard, who worked out for Utah, made it official when he withdrew on Friday.