Predict the score of the MSU Duke game

78-68 MSU

Let's get it!

73-68 Good guys. (IE Not Duke.)

86-77 MSU

114-63

69-64 Sparty party.

68-66 MSU. Dawson putback to win the game at the buzzer.

73-72. Change your underwear. MSU

MSU 69 Puke 67

80-76 track meet. Spartans win it at the stripe.

I had an epiphany today when I read a few articles about how MSU is going to want to slow the game down and limit possessions to help try to equalize the talent gap between the two teams.

MSU is going to run run run. It's going to catch K a bit off guard. I think he's smart enough to know that MSU is more of a running team than people give us credit for (this was a big topic of conversation in 2005 if you remember because WE were the athletic running team and Duke was going to do everything in their power to slow us down - didn't work). But I don't think he will expect a track meet this time around.

The score in 2005? See the OP. Sign me up, OTPT.

I was terrified of Duke up until the end of the Gonzaga game and then it dawned on me that we can beat those fuckers.

Gonzaga went ice cold on wide open jumpers and they missed a crucial lay up to tie it in the 2nd half. I just can't see us being that cold from the field.

I don't think Duke has faced a defense as good as ours in the tournament yet, and there's nothing like a solid d to cause freshmen to crack.

With their lack of depth, our relentless d and ability to run the floor I think we wear them out and win it.

My main concern is the refs. Like Phil Jackson, Coach K is incredible at working the refs. We are going to have to play smart to win this one.

steveschneider wrote:With their lack of depth, our relentless d and ability to run the floor I think we wear them out and win it.

This is becoming the Michigan State "way" in football and basketball. Perhaps we trail early but we wear them down then put them away in the 2nd half. So I agree with you here, Duke is thin and we're not - and that will be the difference.

Izzo's respect among officials is nearly K-like, as well. We all hate how the B1G games are called, but it's definitely true that when Izzo works the refs, we get a call coming our way. We honestly do just play physical, aggressive man to man D. You can't watch Gavin Schilling or Matt Costello play and say those guys aren't fouling.

The one area where Duke might get calls they don't deserve is in their propensity to flop. Something we know Izzo refuses to encourage/coach. Aside from that, I believe we'll get a fair shake. If officiating is bad (like it was in 2013 when we played them) it will be bad for both sides. That game was the most frustrating to watch that I can remember in recent memory. Let the damn kids play.

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:
The score in 2005? See the OP. Sign me up, OTPT.

I didn't even realize that until now.. maybe that's a sign.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:
The score in 2005? See the OP. Sign me up, OTPT.

I didn't even realize that until now.. maybe that's a sign.

Indeed. I believe it is.

BTW what's really fucked up to me is if I think about it, you were probably like 11 back then. God dammit, getting old sucks. I was in Vegas for a bachelor party and it doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:



I didn't even realize that until now.. maybe that's a sign.

Indeed. I believe it is.

BTW what's really fucked up to me is if I think about it, you were probably like 11 back then. God dammit, getting old sucks. I was in Vegas for a bachelor party and it doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

I was watching that game in my garage and played basketball in the drive way with my buddies at time outs. Watched the Kentucky game at my grandma's with the family.

I'm going reminisce here.

I remember we watched the Duke game at the book at TI. They had these leather recliners and kept comping us 16 oz tallboys of Miller Lite. Vonage was new at the time. They had that commercial with that song "woo-hoo, woo hoo hoo, woo-hoo, woo hoo hoo!". We kept screaming it out at every opportunity. That book was very pro MSU, and everyone was joining in. The night got fuzzy. By the end of the game, I was pretty much blacked out. We wandered out onto the strip, and the pirate show was going on. I remember randomly grabbing people and asking them if they thought MSU was an elite basketball program. Most said no.

I don't remember shit else from that night other than throwing my shoe out of the window of my hotel room into the pool below because it started squeaking as I was walking.

Ahhhh Vegas.