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Connor Earegood, James Hawkins, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second-round game between Michigan State and Louisville (2:45 p.m./CBS).
▶Connor Earegood: Louisville looked completely out of sorts in the second half of that win over South Florida, not to say it looked any better in a game it gave up 10 or more turnovers each half. Mikel Brown Jr. needed to play for Louisville to have its best shot at the Spartans, but that isn't happening. It's onto the sweet, sweet, Sweet Sixteen for Michigan State: Pick: Pick: Michigan State, 81-72
▶James Hawkins: Does anyone think the ACC was better than the Big Ten this season? If so, then it might not matter that Louisville was 1-6 against the five teams that finished ahead of it in the conference standings. Star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. won't suit up; he has a nagging back injury and there's no one else in Louisville's lineup who can put the team on his back against MSU’s physical defense. Pick: Michigan State, 82-75
▶John Niyo: Michigan State's a matchup problem for the Cardinals, thanks to its rebounding and physical team defense. And if Louisville wants to speed this game up, Jeremy Fears Jr. and his running mates shouldn't have any issue with that. But the other key for the Spartans in this one is how they'll handle Louisville's small-ball lineup and who'll guard J'Vonne Hadley, who can exploit mismatches and create some foul trouble for a team that really can't afford it. Pick: Michigan State, 78-73
▶Bob Wojnowski: This is a good matchup for the Spartans in one respect – they’re bigger and more physical than the Cardinals. It’s a tough matchup in another respect – Louisville loves to shoot the 3, sixth in the nation with 11.5 made per game. Even without injured freshman star Mikel Brown Jr., they have lethal guards in Isaac McKneely and Ryan Conwell. The Spartans must be disciplined on the perimeter and dominant inside. Pick: Michigan State, 83-76
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions for Michigan State vs. Louisville in NCAA Tournament March Madness
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Predictions for Michigan State vs. Louisville
▶Connor Earegood: Louisville looked completely out of sorts in the second half of that win over South Florida, not to say it looked any better in a game it gave up 10 or more turnovers each half. Mikel Brown Jr. needed to play for Louisville to have its best shot at the Spartans, but that isn't happening. It's onto the sweet, sweet, Sweet Sixteen for Michigan State: Pick: Pick: Michigan State, 81-72
▶James Hawkins: Does anyone think the ACC was better than the Big Ten this season? If so, then it might not matter that Louisville was 1-6 against the five teams that finished ahead of it in the conference standings. Star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. won't suit up; he has a nagging back injury and there's no one else in Louisville's lineup who can put the team on his back against MSU’s physical defense. Pick: Michigan State, 82-75
▶John Niyo: Michigan State's a matchup problem for the Cardinals, thanks to its rebounding and physical team defense. And if Louisville wants to speed this game up, Jeremy Fears Jr. and his running mates shouldn't have any issue with that. But the other key for the Spartans in this one is how they'll handle Louisville's small-ball lineup and who'll guard J'Vonne Hadley, who can exploit mismatches and create some foul trouble for a team that really can't afford it. Pick: Michigan State, 78-73
▶Bob Wojnowski: This is a good matchup for the Spartans in one respect – they’re bigger and more physical than the Cardinals. It’s a tough matchup in another respect – Louisville loves to shoot the 3, sixth in the nation with 11.5 made per game. Even without injured freshman star Mikel Brown Jr., they have lethal guards in Isaac McKneely and Ryan Conwell. The Spartans must be disciplined on the perimeter and dominant inside. Pick: Michigan State, 83-76
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions for Michigan State vs. Louisville in NCAA Tournament March Madness
Continue reading...
