SYRACUSE, NY – This has been a rollercoaster season for Tom Izzo’s 7th-seeded Spartan team, but Michigan State is gelling at the right time, as they have been playing their best basketball in March. Michigan State has been solid on defense all season long, but it is the offense that has been most effective of late–playing at a faster tempo than Spartan fans are accustomed to–while also managing to limit turnovers. Rebounding, a typical hallmark for Izzo teams, might actually be their one weak-point of late, but the Spartans know they will need to re-commit themselves on the boards–and keep leaders Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine out of foul trouble–if they want to beat the highly-athletic 3rd-seeded Oklahoma Sooners on Friday in an East Regional Sweet Sixteen matchup.
Our own P.J. Carlesimo caught up with Tom Izzo ahead of the game.
(Listen to Coach Izzo’s interview with P.J.)
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