Undermanned Michigan State Gives Duke All they Want, but in the End Fall 81-71
Undermanned Michigan State Gives Duke All they Want, but in the End Fall 81-71
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, IN
Down a starter in Alvin Ellis III and a freshman that may be the best of Izzo’s heralded rookie class (Javon Bess) Tom Izzo and his Spartans made the short trip to Indianapolis to take on his nemesis Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils. The Devils are ranked #2 and the Spartans #18.
Most pundits and fans for that measure thought this was a blowout looking for a way to happen and with 12 minutes to go the Spartans moved to within three. Their play impressed a national TV audience with scrappy play. That was as close as it would get. Tom Izzo said of his team from that point, "We're down three, we just didn't have enough subs."
He was right. Duke played ten players. Nine of them McDonald’s All America’s while Michigan State played a walk on and eight players who have a scholarship only one of which carries the McDonalds honor. It shouldn’t have been close.
Izzo was frank admitting, “I'm not happy, I'm not disappointed. I think I got out of it what I wanted to get out of it." He also added that, “We're not a very good defensive team yet and I don't think we will be until we get some subs."
Travis Trice the senior captain and point guard said of the contest and his teams mistakes, “We felt like we lost this game.†The Spartans had 13 turnovers and two fouls while Duke was shooting a three point shot. The Spartans did win the battle of the boards, 35-25 and surprisingly they lead in bench scoring 10-7. Unfortunately for MSU they were only five of 20 from the three.
Izzo said of his short bench and talent depth afterwards that, “Now guys are playing until they're dead." It was evident as the Spartans simply ran out of steam. The Spartans stamina although strained got much respect from Hall of Fame Coach K who said, "They get loose balls and rebounds really well and that's the thing, for us to get better, we're going to have to learn to do."
The Spartans record against Duke on a neutral court now falls to 6-2. The Spartans return to action on Friday at the Breslin Center against Loyola for a 7 PM tip. That game can be seen on BTN.
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