Michigan State and Duke is a battle of two of the top head coaches in the country ahead of Tuesday's Championship Classic matchup. For Tom Izzo and the Spartans, they have a lot to deal with against No. 2 Duke, with one of the most talented rosters in the nation.
That being said, Michigan State Basketball isn’t ranked No. 5 itself for nothing, as they also have Final Four potential. What do they need to do to get this top-5 victory? Here are some keys to the game for the Big Ten program.
1. Jeremy Fears having a NPOY caliber outing
The Spartans are a balanced unit, with no one scoring over 13 ppg in the first two games. But the clear start is Fears, leading the team with 12.5 ppg and 10 apg, currently second in the nation. The preseason All-American is capable of scoring on his own, including nine games of at least 20 points last season. To beat Duke, he may need to produce a 20-point and 10-assist game Tuesday night to lift the team.
2. Getting two-way production out of the center spot
One of the biggest warning signs of the preseason was Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke playing little minutes for the Spartans after a rough debut vs UConn. He’s since put up 20 points and 20 rebounds in 32 minutes combined against inferior competition as the starting center. But Duke and its bevy of big men are a completely different challenge. They’ll need a big game out of both him and backup Ethan Taylor if they’re to compete against the Blue Devils.
3. X-factor double-digit scorer emerging
Michigan State will want this game to be a slugfest and avoid a shootout. But besides Fears, who else is likely to be a double-digit scorer for the team? Options include Jordan Scott, Coen Carr, and freshman standout, Jasiah Jervis. Duke’s elite defense will look to keep them all at bay but someone will need to break out offensively to get the win. The other option would be to have around 9-10 players all chip in at least five points for a collective output on Tuesday.
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