Duke vs Michigan State: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
Duke and Michigan State meet in a high-profile Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup. Will the Blue Devils secure another big win or can the Spartans get things back on track at home?
TV schedule: Tuesday, December 3, 9:30 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan
Recent struggles aside, Duke (7-1) will once again be one of the top college basketball teams this season, especially as this young roster continues to gel. The home loss to Stephen F. Austin will sting for a long time, but this game against Michigan State is a good way to quell all those worries.
The big face to watch is freshman center Vernon Carey Jr. (18.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg), one of the top recruits in the country. Sophomore guard Tre Jones (15.1 ppg, 6.9 apg) is the lone returning starter on this squad and paced the Blue Devils with 15 points in their win over Kansas. This potent recruiting class also features freshman guard Cassius Stanley (12.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and freshman forward Matthew Hurt (10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg), who can both put up points in a hurry.
Their ratings certainly took a plummet after the Stephen F. Austin debacle, but Duke is still 5th in KenPom and 4th in defensive efficiency. This is one of the nation’s best rebounding teams, something that will only keep getting better as these freshmen adjust to the college game even more.
Though they were considered the nation’s top team in the preseason, Michigan State (5-2) already has a pair of blemishes on their record. They were knocked off by Kentucky in New York and by Virginia Tech in Maui, but get a great chance at a marquee win in front of their home crowd.
Obviously, the player to watch is potential Big Ten Player of the Year senior guard Cassius Winston (17.9 ppg, 5.9 apg). Winston put up 20 points to lead the Spartans over UCLA in their final game in Maui, pacing the team as he typically does. Senior guard Joshua Langford should return soon from injury and give the Spartans a deadly backcourt. Watch out also for junior forward Xavier Tillman (12.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg), who is likely the best big man on this squad, especially if he continues to average a double-double.
They may have a pair of losses, but Michigan State is still the top team on KenPom’s ratings. The Spartans have the top-ranked team in offensive efficiency and have played some very impressive ball already this season. A few bad shooting nights have led to some losses, but once Langford comes back, this team will be a deadly force to be reckoned with.
For the Blue Devils, they need to maintain their interior defense, which has cost them in their last few games. Defending Winston is clearly the main goal, though avoiding costly turnovers is obviously a ticket for success. For the Spartans, getting off to a hot shooting start will be key, especially as a team that depends on the outside shot much more than the Blue Devils. If they get this crowd pumping early, it’ll make things pretty difficult for Duke.
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Though they eventually pulled away from Winthrop, Duke’s play in the last two games has been quite concerning. That being said, Michigan State isn’t exactly setting the world on fire with their two November losses. Regardless, the Spartans turned things around with their last two games in Maui while Duke might still be searching for answers, especially in a hostile road environment.