A few quick thoughts before I pack up and leave Winston-Salem after Michigan State's 81-67 loss to North Carolina:

The game wasn't as much a blowout as the score would indicate. The Spartans played the Tar Heels neck and neck for the first 34 minutes, then ran out of gas as too much foul trouble and too little depth finally took its toll. Tyler Hansbrough was a beast with 33 points, but Ty Lawson is the jet that makes UNC go. He gets to the lane as good as any point guard in the nation. His penetration led to a lot of Hansbrough baskets, a lot of Spartan fouls and a lot of second-chance opportunities for North Carolina, which outrebounded MSU 40-27.

The visitor's locker room at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum was a sniffly one Saturday, but MSU has nothing to be ashamed of in its season. The Spartans accomplished more than just about anyone thought they would by winning 23 games and advancing to the second round of the tournament.

Expect MSU to be ranked in the top 10 to start next year. The Spartans return their entire team (unless someone like Maurice Joseph or Idong Ibok decides to transfer), and they'll welcome four new players who will see immediate playing time. Redshirting freshman Tom Herzog will be MSU's No. 4 big man behind Drew Naymick, Goran Suton and Marquise Gray, who played his best basketball in March. And three incoming freshmen will help in the backcourt, where it was the Drew Neitzel-Travis Walton show all year. Neitzel played 38 minutes Saturday and Walton would have played the same if not for foul trouble.

I know it's early to talk about next year, but with a regional at Ford Field the Spartans could hold the same homecourt advantage North Carolina enjoyed Saturday. If that happens, MSU has as good a shot as anyone at the national title.