NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Game Thread: Michigan State Spartans vs. Duke Blue Devils

When the the NCAA tournament field was revealed on selection Sunday, fans and pundits alike were stunned to see the Michigan State Spartans and Duke Blue Devils paired in the same region. From that moment forward, it was pretty much expected that those two storied programs were on a collision course to meet in the Elite Eight. And now we are here.

Tip-off is set for 5:05 p.m. in Washington D.C. For those of us who are unable to make it to our nation’s capital today, the game can be watched on CBS. And for The Only Colors faithful, this is your game thread space.

There has been a lot of chatter surrounding this matchup. You know, things like Mike Krzyzewski owns Tom Izzo in head-to-head matchups (11-1) or MSU isn’t athletic enough to hang with Duke. Or on the other hand, the Spartans are going to simply outwork and “out-tough” Duke and the team’s experience will be the difference today. All of this may be true or untrue, but I am just ready to watch a really intriguing matchup and see how it all unfolds on the court.

I really don’t need to go into too much detail here. We know what this game means. A trip to the Final Four is on the line. It’s Izzo versus Coach K once again. Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett against Cassius Winston and a banged up Michigan State squad who continues to overachieve and prove the doubters wrong. Will Nick Ward be limited? Will Cam Reddish (game-time decision) play? All of our questions will soon be answered.

The winner of this contest faces Texas Tech in Minneapolis in a national semifinal game (aka, the Final Four!).

GO GREEN!

TOC Content Review:

• Michigan State is no one’s Cinderella
• Why McQuaid and Goins Can Decide the Outcome Against Duke
• Duke Breakdown
• MSU smothers LSU to move on to the Elite Eight