No. 7 Connecticut
vs. No. 4 Michigan State
Time: 2:20PM
ET
Venue: Madison
Square Garden
TV: CBS
Records: Connecticut
29-8; Michigan State 29-8
Connecticut stat
leaders: Points – Shabazz Napier (17.9 ppg); Rebounds – Napier (5.9
rpg); Assists – Napier (4.9 apg); Steals – Napier (1.8 spg).
Michigan State
stat leaders: Points – Garry Harris (16.6 ppg); Rebounds – Branden
Dawson (8.3 rpg); Assists – Keith Appling (4.5 apg); Steals – Harris (1.9 spg).
Current Streaks: Connecticut
W3, Michigan State W6
Point Spread: Michigan
State -5.5
Prediction: I
like the Spartans in this one because MSU has the capability to slow down
Napier with a concentrated defensive effort. I am sure most teams focus on
Napier, but MSU actually has the athletes and depth to carry out the game plan.
DeAndre Daniels and Ryan Boatright can cause problems, but MSU should take the
risk of having those two beat them as opposed to Napier. Napier is aggressive,
but that just means that the Spartans need to make him earn his points. Give
him a hard foul when he attacks or make him spend energy when dribbling around
the perimeter. Tom Izzo is an old school coach and I am sure he is going to
have a plan to slowly tire Napier out with physicality and energy. Offensively,
Michigan State will feel be very happy to not see Virginia again on the other
side, which should open up the offense. Transition opportunities will be there
and I suspect Gary Harris will have a big game coming off a quite performance
against Virginia. The reason State has been successful as of late is because of
the play of Dawson and Payne, but today I see the game going to Harris. The
Spartans just have more offensive weapons than UConn and I think that is the
difference in the game. Michigan
State 73, Connecticut 65
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