On the other hand, you have MSU who has been on a mission to find themselves all year. They have managed to do it in the tournament and are being lifted by a city and state in need of a lift. Of course, they also have Izzo, Magic and the other past players that have participated in this ride. They will have the overwhelming number of fans at Ford Field pulling for them.

So the question is, does the external motivation carry Sparty far enough to keep them in the game, keep it close and buoy the team’s energy to keep it physical throughout the game and eventually wear down UNC and “crack” their spirit or does the intenral drive and motiviation on UNC’s side keep them focused on their goal throughout the entire game?

What a test of wills and spirit! GO GREEN!!!!!

defence wins championships

I guess it could also be that teams emphasize offensive boards after they fall behind (which most UNC opponents usually do at some point) – it’s a desperate attempt to generate some offense to catch back up.

Limit the turnovers, hit the glass, stout defense. Just have to hope they don’t shoot lights out from beyond the arc. I remember last game they were nailing NBA-caliber threes.

Fortunately, those are two things we do very well. Survive the first few minutes and don’t get down double digits early. Calm the nerves, then play your game.

I’m so excited yet I can hardly watch.

MSU has been a statistical underdog in their past four games — KU, Louisville, UConn, and now UNC. FWIW, being a four, three, two-point dog hasn’t meant much this tournament.*

* – Obviously.

The thing that worries me is that if you are a good offensive rebounding team you absolutely can be a good defensive rebounding team – they have it in them, they just don’t emphasize it. I hope they keep not emphasizing it in this game. It’s a little surprising that they don’t make more of a point of defensive rebounding though – grabbing those boards would be a good way for them to start their break. Plus, you would think most teams they play would be so scared of their break that they would drop everyone back rather than crash the offensive glass. If anything, that should lead to an inflated defensive rebounding percentage. That doesn’t seem to be happening though.

I’m really surprised they don’t force more turnovers just based on the number they forced against us the first time around.

Mark in DC: I suspect the reason their defensive rebounding is somewhat weaker is because of their fast break. If you’re sending guys down court to run the break, you’re not sending them to the glass.

It’s going to take a near-perfect game. There isn’t an obvious weakness like Louisville’s half-court execution or UConn’s depth issues and vulnerability to the fast break; we’re going to simply have to out-execute them, and that’s going to be a tall order. We absolutely have to cut down on the turnovers (particularly steals) to win, and we’re going to need to hit some perimeter shots. Today would be a good day to get Good Allen instead of Brick-Laying Allen.