Sweet 16 to Elite 8, who’s going to get a slice of the cake?

Midwest Region #5 Michigan State Spartans vs. #9 Univ of Northern Iowa Panthers Friday 9:37 PM

Michigan St. Spartans- How they got here: Beat #12 New Mexico St. Aggies 70-67, #4 Maryland Terrapins 85-83

The Michigan State Spartans never make it easy. They relinquished a sizeable lead against New Mexico St and saw an 18 point advantage dissolve an Oreo in milk in their thrilling last millisecond win over Maryland. It wouldn’t be Michigan State if they didn’t make things hard. But, whether it’s by 20 or by 1 all that maters is that you get it done. And that’s exactly what head coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans do.

Izzo’s Spartans may not be a glamorous team, but the lifelong Michigan resident has constructed a phenomenal college hardwood factory. Michigan St. has made 5 of the last 11 Final Four’s. However, in order for last year’s national runner-up to make a return trip to the hallowed destination they’ll have to do it without their maestro First Team-All Big Ten selection and last year Big Ten POY Kalin Lucas. The Spartans won the battle but lost the war as but lost the war as Lucas suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. Kalin is Michigan St.’s leading scorer (14.1 pts) and delegator (4.1 asst). But his value as an emotional leader and propensity to make shots at critical junctures is incalculable.

Filling Lucas role will be backup guard Korie Luscious (5.2 pts, 3.2 asst). For the season Luscious shoots a nauseating 34 percent, but against Maryland the sophomore quarterback scored 13 points on 5-8 from the floor, including the game-winning triple. That shot should boost raise his confidence substantially.

Raymar Morgan (11.6 pts, 6.2 rebounds, 54.3% fg) should also help supplement the absence of Lucas. Morgan is really maddeningly inscrutable. At times Morgan can look like a fantastic, potential lottery pick with his explosive athleticism, grimy dunks and Dominique Wilkins elevation on his jumper in the paint. Other time, the senior forward looks like an apprehensive underperformer unsure of himself and not willing to accept the pressure of being an elite player. The Spartans will need the good, focused Morgan to show up, board, score and play great defense on UNI’s Adam Koch.

Durrell Summers, (who looks just like hip hop group OutKast’s Andre 3000) truly has been the prototype for Michigan St. The junior two guard (10.7 pts, 4.5 rebounds, 80.8% ft) has risen his game like elevators, going for 20 points an outing in the tourney, connecting on 53 percent of his threeball chucks and 52 percent from the floor overall. Look for athletic swingman to pull triples, fill the lane hard in transition and make strong drives to the rim, trying to flush on Jordan Egleseder and Koch like a toilet if he gets the chance. Chris Allen (8.2 pts, 2.1 asst, 40.2% three’s) is the Spartans best treyball marksman, but he only played four minutes versus Maryland due to a bad foot and had minimal participation in practice this week. Perimeter players will also need to be alert and not give open three’s to UNI’S shooters.

Coach Izzo’s teams have always been predicated on unrelenting defense and rebounding. The Spartans defense hasn’t displayed the typical stinginess that’s been a fixture of their success but they’re still an excellent rebounding squad. The pillars of Michigan State’s backline are Draymond Green (9.8 pts, 8.1 boards, 3.1 dimes, 53.8% fg) and Delvin Rowe (6.2 pts, 5.2 boards, 56.1% fg). Green is one of the best passing post players in the country and is incredibly intuitive. He’s also a good post scorer. Rowe is more of a hustle player who doesn’t look to score, but he’s very active on defense and the offensive boards. They’ll need to play good position defense on Egleseder, not permitting him deep post position and force the lefty to his right hand.

#9 UNI Panthers- How they got here: Beat #8 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels 69-67, #1 Kansas Jayhawks 69-67

Let’s get this straight. Anyone who predicted UNI would pull of the monumental, unfathomable popping of number 1 overall seed and consensus, prohibitive favorite Kansas Jayhawks either had their dog pick the bracket or has been drinking the formula out of Lil Wayne’s plastic cup. Before last Saturday UNI was as a respectable, but little known school far more prominent for their state full of cows and cornfields (and I should know cause I’m an UNI alum). But after last weekend’s dethroning of basketball dynasty Kansas everyone knows exactly who these Panthers are cause they serious and furious.

Head coach Ben Jacobson, who signed a 10 year extension this week has built a Missouri Valley Conference powerhouse. UNI has captured the last two regular season and MVC tournament titles. The Panthers are as legit as a freshly cooked pot of dirty south grits. UNI is lead by MVC POY Adam Koch (11.6 pts, 4.9 rebounds, 47% fg, 84% ft, 35% three’s) hasn’t really had a big game in the tourney like he’s capable of yet. But the senior forward is an acute player who’s equally proficient at busting j’s, treys, working in the post finishing with either hand, or draining treys.

Jordan Egleseder is a behemoth. At 7’0, 280 pounds (more like 310) Egleseder may look like he could portray Egor but the big man can ball. The senior center is UNI’S leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 12 points and 7.3 boards a game. He may not have the best lateral movement and he jumps about as high as a caterpillar, but “Eggs” as he’s referred to by teammates is a viable low post scorer with his turnaround jumper and lefty half hooks. Although not a notable shot smacker Egleseder is an imposing defensive presence just by the sheer magnitude of his stature. The big can also hit jumpers, but don’t expect him to light it up from long range again like he did last week against Kansas as he made 2 of his 3 triples for the entire season.

The face of the tournament so far has been Ali Farokhmanesh (9.7 pts, 38% three’s, 86.5% ft). “Ali bumaye!” supplied the indelible memory of the tournament with his beautifully reckless, gutsy, sinister, unapologetic casket closing gargantuan almonds triple against Kansas. “Faroak cut ya throat” is a mercury hurler who can go in shooting famines but he has a penchant for almost always dropping the pivotal shots when it matters most. Point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe (10 pts, 3.8 asst, 35% three’s) is the Panthers leading dime dropper and who Coach Jacobson calls on to construct his shot at the end of the shot clock. Lucas O’Rear (4.2 pts, 4.5 rebounds) has a small statistical impact, but his activity, ability to draw charges and hustle deflections getting second chance opportunities are immeasurable.

UNI wants a methodical, deliberate bump and grind ugly affair. The uglier the better. The Panthers play merciless, disciplined team defense that wears on you mentally and can be extremely agitating. They’ll make you want to say “back, back! Give me 50 feet.” UNI showed a major deficiency when Kansas went to the full court press. They’ll need to protect the ball much better, and make smarter decisions than they did last week.

This should be a physical, slow down, defensive oriented street bangout. It will more than likely be a low scoring game in the 60’s. Michigan St is loaded with hardiness indicative of their head coach, but the loss of Lucas and a limited Allen and Roe should enable the cornfield hoopers to slow the Spartans in an offensive stooper and continue their unprecedented best run in program history. UNI makes it do wat it do in Da Lou. But, if the Spartans are smart and implement Kansas late game press approach early they can definitely neuter the Panthers.

East Region #1 Duke Blue Devils vs #4 Purdue Boilermakers 9:47 PM

Due to time constraints this will be an abbreviated diagnostic.

Purdue has showed exceptional mettle playing without All-Big Ten performer and best player Robbie Hummel. But unless center JuJuan Johnson has a monstrous game similar to Marcus Camby during his All-American days at UMass the Blue Devils combination of Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith on the perimeter as well as Kyle Singler and emerging Brian Zoubek on the inside will be too much for the hobbled Boilermaker to overcome.

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