10:30 a.m. today; South Regional
No. 5 Spartans: 25-8, 12-6 Big Ten No. 12 Owls: 21-12, 11-5 Atlantic 10
Key matchup.
Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan vs. Temple’s Dionte Christmas. Michigan State will have to find a way to defend Temple’s super-smooth Christmas, who led the Owls in scoring (20.2) en route to making first team all-Atlantic 10. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo indicated 6-7 Morgan will get the first crack, but he’ll switch as the game goes on. “They’re a matchup nightmare for us,” Izzo said.
Up high.
Temple is riding a seven-game winning streak thanks in part to backcourt duo of Christmas and Mark Tyndale, who has a team-high 141 assists. Spartans senior Drew Neitzel is on a mission to be more aggressive and score, as evidenced by his 27.0 average in the Big Ten Tournament.
Down low.
MSU center Drew Naymick has a school-record 131 career blocks, and he and F Goran Suton will need all of their 6-10 frames to stop 7-foot Spaniard Sergio Olmos, who is having a career season. In the Owls’ three-guard set, it’s Olmos and Lavoy Allen who have the low post.
Quote.
“We’re playing better basketball than a month ago. That’s almost as big as winning or losing.”
Tom Izzo, Michigan State coach, on moving on from the loss to Wisconsin
Irv Moss’ pick: Michigan State
