Elite 8: (5) Michigan State vs. (6) Tennessee

• Non

  

  Just about how most people had this bracket playing out.
• elbuckeye28

  Well Izzo is probably the best coach in college BB, but I just don't see them handling Tennessee without Lucas.
• Non

  

  
  
  
  
• Red_Skin_Pride

  

  I'll take sparty in another thriller. I underestimated them last year, and as usual they proved about 95% of the country, myself included, wrong. Yet again, and not by coincidence, MSU is playing their best ball of the year at exactly the right time. Was their any doubt they would hit that shot against Maryland to win it? Take care of a very solid Northern Iowa team even without Lucas? some people say yes but it didn't suprise me in the least. Izzo gets most from his players better than any coach in the COUNTRY, and he will in this game. It will not be easy, or very pretty without Lucas, but MSU has enough in the tank to get them to the final four for a second straight year. You best believe this will be a barn burner, best matchup of the elite 8 I would say.
• Jughead

  

  Can Michigan State hit the 3 consistently? That is the only way that I see Tennessee falling in this game. The Volunteers seem to dominate the post region resulting in many high percentage shots.
• NNN

  

  I primarily work with one OSU fan and one Michigan State fan.
  
  It'll be an interesting next week or so.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I think this is a very favorable matchup for MSU without Lucas. They have the athletes to bang with Tennessee. I expect a VERY exciting game, I can't pick against Izzo--every player he coaches plays in a Final Four, goin' with Sparty.
• osu45804

  

  Go Sparty, Kick their ass
• Cleveland Buck

  

  With Lucas I would take Sparty. Without him they won't have enough offense. It will be a decent game though because Michigan State will at least defend the paint, which the Buckeyes refused to do.
• Heretic

  

  Cleveland Buck wrote: With Lucas I would take Sparty. Without him they won't have enough offense. It will be a decent game though because Michigan State will at least defend the paint, which the Buckeyes refused to do.

  That's about how I look at it. MSU has the big bodies to prevent Chism from being a one-man wrecking crew in the paint, which will put pressure on their shooters to perform, but for them to win, they'll have to dictate the tempo, smother Tennessee and hope to pull it out in the final moments.
• reclegend22

  

  Izzo is a great coach, but Let's Go Vols!
• Prescott

  With Lucas I would take Sparty. Without him they won't have enough offense.

  I agree. A team can't lose a player like Kalin Lucas and be the same team. They were extremely fortunate to beat Maryland and then they drew UNI.UNI was a great story, but they weren't a great challenge. The Spartans run ends tomorrow.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  UNI beat Kansas, if you don't think they were a great challenge then you're looney.
• Laley23

  

  Last year Korie Lucious stepped up big for Lucas, I expect the same. He has done it the last 2 games and did it last year. I dont see why MSU cant win. Not saying they will because Tennessee has the ability to beat anyone. But just because Lucas is out doesnt mean MSU is now gonna get rolled. They still have a ton of talent in Roe, Allen, Summers, Lucious, Green, Morgan, etc. The talent on the floor will be about equal imo.
• hoops23

  

  Tom Izzo gets the job done.
  
  MSU has a nice sized, yet athletic front court anchored by Green and Morgan.
  
  I think MSU defensively is much better than Ohio State, and the fact that MSU can score in the paint will help their cause as well... OSU didn't have an inside game, at all. They were ABUSED in the paint. The telling stat for Tennessee will be which Wayne Chism shows up? If it's the one from the 1st two rounds, they go home.. If it's the one from the Sweet 16, they have a great chance..
  
  MSU won't be abused in the paint, though. I'm thinking it'll be a game in the 50's, possibly the 60's.. I'm taking MSU in this one though.
  
  I look for Raymar Morgan to have a BIG game.. I look for them to control Chism and Luscious hits some big shots.
• reclegend22

  

  I will be cheering for Tennessee (wouldn't mind seeing a new face at The Show), but I also agree that Izzo is truly a gem of a coach. His motivation skills have to be equaled by none. I mean, he consistently (every single year) takes teams that seem way under the radar and charges them straight to the Final Four, hunting for a national crown. How this man as only one title is one of the biggest mysteries in sports.
  
  He deserves another title. It just won't be this year. Butler will not let down the state next Saturday.
• Red_Skin_Pride

  

  reclegend22 wrote: I will be cheering for Tennessee (wouldn't mind seeing a new face at The Show), but I also agree that Izzo is truly a gem of a coach. His motivation skills have to be equaled by none. I mean, he consistently (every single year) takes teams that seem way under the radar and charges them straight to the Final Four, hunting for a national crown. How this man as only one title is one of the biggest mysteries in sports.
  
  He deserves another title. It just won't be this year. Butler will not let down the state next Saturday.

  History has an odd way of repeating itself. It was exaclty a decade ago that Sparty won it's NC under Izzo, and although they were a great team that year, a lot of people felt they would fall in the tourney and they got the job done. Last year, MSU suprised everyone it seemed like, and knocked on the door, only to fall to the Carolina buzzsaw. This year, I really feel like it's a wide open tourney this year, and there are some great coaches in the final four. But none motivate their team, as rec said, like Izzo. They may get beat, but it'll take one hell of a team to do it, because those kids will leave everything out on the floor. As the mascot suggests, there will be no lack of focus or quit in the Spartans, and I wouldn't be the least bit suprised if they were cutting down the nets next monday. Butler's a great story, WVU and Duke are powerful teams, but I don't know that any of them have the will or desire that MSU will. These kids and Izzo were all part of that team that fell just short last year, and you know Lucas will be there motivating every one of them. Hard to call how it will turn out with 4 great teams, but if I were a bettin' man, I'd be crazy to bet against Tom Izzo.
• centralbucksfan

  I liked MSU vs UNI. I don't like them vs Tenn. Tenn matches up well with MSU. They have the athletes. If the Tenn that played vs OSU shows up...I think they beat a Lucas-less MSU team by 6-10pts.
  If the inconsistant Tenn shows up...it will go down to the wire. If Lucas were playing, I'd take MSU. They were able to get away without Lucas vs UNI because of their athletes ...that won't be the case today.
• vball10set

  osu45804 wrote: Go Sparty, Kick their ass

  +1...I think Izzo's worth at least 4 points,and I like MSU by 3.
• mallymal614

  It's going to be hard for me to watch this game. Knowing Ohio State should be playing
• centralbucksfan

  mallymal614 wrote: It's going to be hard for me to watch this game. Knowing Ohio State should be playing

  "Could" instead of should. But I agree, tough to watch...especially now as this was a year of opportunity.
• mallymal614

  centralbucksfan wrote:

  mallymal614 wrote: It's going to be hard for me to watch this game. Knowing Ohio State should be playing

  "Could" instead of should. But I agree, tough to watch...especially now as this was a year of opportunity.

  Exactly! Thats what makes it hurt even more. There is no dominant team this year. The buckeyes had a good path for a championship. Oh well.
• mallymal614

  14-14 early on.
  
  First one to 100 wins?
• Cleveland Buck

  

  Tennessee shooting out of their minds right now from three. Those aren't open looks. If that keeps up then you just tip your cap because it is their day.
• centralbucksfan

  Wow, both teams on freaking fire. Unreal.