Michigan State Senior Goran Suton recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds in the N.C.A.A. Championship game against North Carolina last night.

The only problem?  Michigan State got blown out in the finale, 89-72.

After recording only 4 points and 7 rebounds against Hasheem Thabeet in a win over Connecticut in the Final Four, Suton rebounded to shoot 7-10 from the field, tallying 17 points and 11 rebounds against Tyler Hansborough and the North Carolina Tarheels.

Suton’s 17 points were a team high and his 11 rebounds were a game high.

In his last four tournament games, Suton has averaged 15 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.  The center from Bosnia also shot 58.3% from three.

From East Lansing to… ?
Despite Suton’s play, the Spartans were never in the game.  And because of that, his 17 points were not ever that impactful.

“We wish we would have gone out with a bang, but it obviously didn’t happen … but I think we have to be proud of the run we made in this tournament.” said Suton.

The 6-11 Suton should also be proud of himself too.  His performances in the tournament are the reason why the Spartans were in the final, and the numbers he recorded on the way has already paid dividends.

Suton was named to the All-Tournament Team by Rivals.com, and was honored as the Most Valuable Player in the Midwest bracket for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds of the tournament.

Europe has certainly been paying attention.  Before the championship game, Suton was reportedly contacted by the head coach of the Croatian National Team, and offered the chance to suit up for Croatia.

A quote from an interview suggests that Suton may play for Croatia, “If everything works for me i will come in Croatia and I will respond to national team call and join senior program.” Suton supposedly told Sportal.hr in an interview (rough translation from Croatian).

Though Suton was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he owns a Croatian passport and his father, Miroslav is Bosnian-Croat.

With Goran’s mixed ethnicity, childhood displacement, dual passports, and multiple citizenship, forums and message boards around the web have Suton representing Croatia in international play, or Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Serbia.  So who knows?

Whatever happens with his national team, the 2009 NBA Draft comes first.

Before the tournament, Suton wasn’t projected to be selected in the NBA draft by any of the major mock drafts around the net.  Now with his tournament performance in the equation, no doubt the 23 year old has opened the eyes of some NBA general managers and professional scouts.  Whether it’s enough, remains to be seen.

Ok, we feel like a Goran Suton fanboy page now. We promise no more Suton love for at least a week.

Links and Resources: Spartans’ Goran Suton finishes with double-double (MLive), Hasheem Thabeet vs. Goran Suton, Foreign Centers to clash in Final Four (Interbasket), NCAA zvijezda: Odazvat ću se pozivu hrvatske reprezentacije (Sportal.hr), Rivals.com All-Tournament Team (Rivals.com), March Madness’ Best Players: Reranked (Interbasket), Top Ten International Players to Watch during March Madness (Interbasket)