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Tom Izzo is already a Naismith Memorial Corridor of Famer with a nationwide title and eight journeys to the Remaining 4 beneath his belt. His teaching legacy is safe eternally. He is an all-time nice with nothing left to show.
However he does not really feel that manner.
Izzo desperately desires to win a second nationwide championship and turn into simply the sixteenth coach in Division I males’s basketball historical past to safe a number of titles. He is instructed me that many occasions. And although I’ve by no means heard him dwell on it an excessive amount of, I am sure his 2-12 profession document towards fellow Corridor of Famer Mike Krzyzewski heading into this 12 months’s Champions Traditional needed to eat at him (no less than a bit bit) too.
So, no, the Cameron Crazies weren’t inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was not a traditional/wild setting. However that should not take something away from No. 8 Michigan State recording an spectacular 75-69 victory over No. 6 Duke on Tuesday night time. And Izzo made it clear afterward that he is joyful so as to add it to his document.
“I do know one factor — I am not gonna put this as an asterisk,” he mentioned. “It was a very good win for us towards a very good workforce and an awesome program.”
Duke and Michigan State are two of the largest and most acquainted manufacturers in school basketball — however each groups are very totally different than they had been final season. The Spartans misplaced their high two scorers (Cassius Winston, Xavier Tillman). The Blue Devils misplaced their high three scorers (Vernon Carey, Tre Jones, Cassius Stanley). So each applications are asking gamers to do issues they’ve by no means accomplished. And, fairly merely, Michigan State’s gamers did these issues higher than Duke’s gamers did them on this sport.
That is why the Spartans gained.
It was clear, heading into this season, that Michigan State being nice can be reliant on Aaron Henry or Rocket Watts having a breakthrough 12 months. They mixed to common 19.0 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists final season. They mixed to get 34 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists towards Duke.
“We put Aaron on the level some, and he did a helluva job,” Izzo mentioned. “We rode him like a horse.”
Meantime, Duke’s so-called horses had been rather less ridable. Jalen Johnson, who obtained 19 factors and 19 rebounds within the season-opener towards Coppin State, was held to 11 factors and 4 rebounds towards Michigan State. Wendell Moore missed all 9 pictures he took. DJ Steward missed all seven pictures he took. The Blue Devils completed with simply 9 assists and 12 turnovers. So whereas they deserve credit score for competing till the ultimate horn regardless of trailing by 16 factors within the second half, their efficiency normally served as a reminder that that is the primary 12 months since 2012 that Duke didn’t enroll a consensus top-10 prospect to assist substitute what exited.
Does that imply Duke is destined for mediocrity?
In fact not.
The Blue Devils have completed within the high 10 at KenPom in six of the previous eight seasons. They’re some of the dependable applications, if not the most dependable program, within the nation. Low cost them at your personal danger.
I will not.
As for Michigan State, the Spartans had been picked fourth within the preseason Large Ten ballot although they’ve gained no less than a share of three straight Large Ten titles. And maybe that is the place they’re going to end. As at all times, we’ll see. However when you can win at Cameron Indoor, even an empty Cameron Indoor, successful a fourth straight Large Ten title is certainly a chance. And possibly, simply possibly, it is also an indication that the second nationwide championship Tom Izzo so desperately desires can also be a purpose value setting and chasing.
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