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Of the four squads that have traveled to Indianapolis for this weekend’s Final Four, three are No. 1 seeds. The Michigan State Spartans are not amongst them.
Yet you would be hard-pressed to find a less desirable opponent than Tom Izzo’s hard-nosed team. The Spartans, that seeded a middling seventh in the East Region by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee a mere two weeks ago, have performed at a much higher level as they trek to Indiana for a seventh Final Four in 20 years.
Standing in way for Saturday’s Semifinal opener are Mike Krzyzewski and his Duke Blue Devils. Between Coach K and Izzo, the combined coaching experience of 19 Final Fours will be stalking the sidelines once action gets underway at Lucas Oil Stadium.
As impressive as those numbers may be, Saturday’s game presents an interesting blend of both coaching styles and program philosophies.
Long known for his ability to attract multiple four and five-star recruits, Krzyzewski again brings a loaded roster of former McDonald’s All-Americans to college basketball’s signature event. In fact, three of the Blue Devils’ top four players (Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justice Winslow) were in high school at this time last year.
But when you’re as prodigiously gifted as that trio, age is nothing but a number. And when it comes to numbers, Okafor, Jones and Winslow matchup with any three-man group in the country.
Therein lies the challenge for Izzo and the Spartans, Saturday afternoon.
While Duke carries just one senior in its regular player rotation, Michigan State boasts upper-class leadership throughout the lineup. Travis Trice, one of the Tournament’s breakout stars, is a senior. Burly forward Branden Dawson is a senior. Matt Costello, Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes are juniors. The only rookies that see regular playing time for the Spartans are Lourawls Nairn, Jr. and Marvin Clark, Jr., both of whom play supporting roles off the bench.
Could that edge in experience make a difference on Saturday? Time will certainly tell.
Experience edge or not, its clear Duke’s youngsters can play. Okafor is considered a lottery-pick lock with his averages of 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per outing. The Chicago product, who stands 6-foot-11, seemingly does it all for the Blue Devils. Jones has already cemented his spot amongst the best point guards in the country while Winslow presents potential nightmares for Izzo and company with his versatility from the wing.
Of course, the Spartans don’t lack for star power either, even if theirs is of the less-flashy variety. Trice’s ability to set up teammates and knock down shots has already helped the Spartans defeat three higher-seeded teams on the way to the Final Four. Can he continue to perform at such high level against Duke?
The Blue Devils’ Quinn Cook will definitely have a say in the matter.
Cook, Duke’s lone regularly contributing senior, will likely face Trice from the outset. Offensively, the Maryland-native pours in 15.5 points per game to rank second behind only Okafor amongst his teammates. Yet it will likely be Cook’s defense against the explosive Trice that could ultimately decide matters. Trice has exhibited a quick first-step and increasing range on his jump shot throughout the NCAA Tourney. Cook will therefore be in Trice’s face right from the start.
Can Valentine, Dawson and Costello pick up the slack? Valentine possesses tremendous feel for the game, making his impending matchup with Winslow an intriguing one on the wing. The same can be said for both Dawson and Costello, who figure to body-up on Okafor from the opening tip as well.
Add it all up and Saturday’s semifinal has all the ingredients for a classic encounter. Who will advance to Monday evening’s National Championship Game? The only thing certain is that whichever team advances will relish Sunday’s breather.
Matt Johnson is a Big 10 basketball writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter at mattytheole or “like” him on Facebook.
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