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April 6, 2009

What will it take for MSU to upset?

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Look for the unsung hero

By Dennis Chase

Who will be the next A.J. Granger? The next Terry Donnelly?

When Michigan State won national titles in 2000 and 1979, it was Granger and Donnelly -- two unsung players -- who stepped up and repeatedly hit big shots to help put the Spartans over the top.

If Michigan State is to beat North Carolina tonight in Detroit, the Spartans will need to hit the open shot -- consistently. I don't know if they can dictate tempo like they did against Connecticut, but if the Spartans can knock down the open shots, and feed off the energy of the crowd, anything is possible.

Kansas coach Bill Self, whose Jayhawks beat North Carolina in last year's Final Four, picked the Spartans to win it all prior to the Connecticut game. He said the stars all seemed to be aligned for Michigan State.

Michigan State is finding different ways to win -- with different players stepping up.

And if the Spartans are truly taking on the personality of their coach, Tom Izzo, you have to like this comment.

"We've had some great games here (in Detroit)," Izzo said, "and the best is yet to come."

Exploit a matchup, again

By James Cook

Simply put, the Spartans need to continue doing what they've been doing all tournament long.

Michigan State been taking advantage of matchups, getting good production from its bench and having a different player step up nearly every game.

Last time it was Durrell Summers.

Previously, it's been Travis Walton, Korie Lucious and Goran Suton.

MSU can afford to have one of its big contributors shut down because of its depth.

North Carolina can't as much.

Although the Tar Heels are similarly senior-heavy, if Walton can clamp down on Ty Lawson and a combination of bigs can limit Tyler Hansbrough (you can't stop him), then Michigan State has a puncher's chance. Another solid outing from Draymond Green will be big.

Carolina is the prohibitive favorite, but MSU has been knocking off the elites all tournament long, starting off with defending champion Kansas before taking out a pair of No. 1 seeds in Louisville and Connecticut. Louisville, by the way, was ranked ahead of North Carolina.

Avoid the early knockout

By Mike Eckert

If North Carolina is smart, the Tar Heels will throw everything they have at Michigan State early on.

If the Spartans can weather the storm, they'll be fine.

Time and time again, Michigan State has shown it's a second-half team. Credit it to the team's depth, head coach Tom Izzo's coaching, or a combination of the two.

Either way, the Spartans need to stay in this one until the break.

When the Tar Heels pounded MSU in a 98-63 drubbing back in December, it came after a 53-39 lead at halftime. Certainly, North Carolina will want to repeat that first half to quiet the sea of Green and White supporters at Ford Field.

If the game is close at the half -- say five to seven points either way -- I like Michigan State's chances.

Sophomore guard Kalin Lucas usually steps up after the half and he will need to do so again today. In Saturday's win over Connecticut, he scored 13 of his 21 points after the intermission.

Good players step up in pressure situations. And in Lucas, MSU fans trust.

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