98-63. 89-72. Michigan State certainly remembers those two scores from last year, the results of their two meetings with North Carolina, the latter being in the championship game of the NCAA tournament. The Spartans also are not likely to forget that both meetings took place in the state of Michigan and they could not get the job done either time. They get another crack at the Tar Heels in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Tuesday night, however. The game is undoubtedly the highlight of the challenge, which the Big Ten is looking to win for the first time. Look for a much tighter game than either of last year’s. The Spartans enter the game at #9 in the country after a disappointing loss to Florida in Atlantic City last weekend, while North Carolina enters at #11 and also sports one loss, to Syracuse in the championship game of the Jimmy V Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Below is a complete breakdown preview of the game.
Guards: The Spartans are led by defending Big Ten Player of the Year PG Kalin Lucas and also have a strong backup in PG Korie Lucious. Both are capable of putting up points in a hurry and also creating open shots for their teammates. Lucas is shooting 45% from three point range going in to the game, a very impressive number. SG Chris Allen is a very streaky shooter and has a history of not shooting the ball well in big games. Swingman Durrell Summers has played great so far this season. UNC lost lightning quick PG Ty Lawson to the NBA, but PG Larry Drew II has filled in admirably this year, putting up 6.7 assists per game. Swingman Marcus Ginyard is breaking out this year, and SG Will Graves and SG Dexter Strickland provide depth in the Tar Heel backcourt.
Advantage: Michigan State
Forwards: PF Raymar Morgan is possibly the most over-hyped player to suit up for the Spartans in a very long time. He does not rebound particularly well (4.6 per game) or score that much (8.4 points per game), but for some reason people across the country are very high on him. I’m not. Forwards Dryamond Green and Delvon Roe provide a solid low post presence and combine for 17 points and 17 boards per game. UNC’s front line is its strength. PF Deon Thompson has broken out now that he is no longer playing along side All-America PF Tyler Hansbrough, putting up 17.7 points and 8.9 boards per game. Tyler Zeller and John Henson round out the UNC forward core.
Advantage: Even
Center: The center position is the achilles heel for MSU. Tom Herzog, Garrick Sherman and Derrick Nix are, to put it bluntly, not threatening to an opposing team. Not much can be said about the three except they provide a big body on the court until coach Tom Izzo decides to go small and play with three forwards. On the other side, Ed Davis is really coming in to his own, averaging nearly a double-double (12.7 pts, 9.9 boards). UNC will also rotate Zeller in to the C position when Davis comes out of the game.
Advantage: North Carolina
Coaching: Not a whole lot can be said here except both teams sport Hall of Fame head coaches in Tom Izzo (MSU) and Roy Williams (UNC). Izzo just became the winningest coach in Spartan basketball history and would love to somewhat avenge the losses from last year. Neither team has an advantage here; any team in the NCAA would love to have either of these guys running their bench.
Advantage: Even
Intangibles: MSU returns almost their whole team from last year, losing just two players that played consistent minutes (Travis Walton and Goran Suton). North Carolina, on the other hand, lost their top four scorers from a year ago (Hansbrough, Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green.) State has an obvious edge in experience, and UNC has had turnover problems so far this season. Look for MSU to pressure UNC’s guards. North Carolina should dominate inside, but Izzo always has great rebounding teams. That matchup of the front courts will be very interesting. The game is in Chapel Hill, seemingly giving UNC a slight advantage. Experience pays off in a hostile environment, however.
Advantage: Michigan State
Prediction: Michigan State 76, North Carolina 70
