For the fifth time in as many years; and 14th time overall, two of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the nation meet, this time on Veterans' Day aboard the USS Carl Vinson outside San Diego.
North Carolina and Michigan State, who played for the 2009 national championship and reprised their Ford Field encounter inside the Smith Center during the 2009 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, face one another for the first time since that aforementioned contest in Chapel Hill; one in which the Tar Heels defended their title behind 22 points from Ed Davis en route to an 89-82 win over the Spartans. This time, it's Michigan State who comes in as the young team trying to prove they are still among the nation's elite, while North Carolina enters the new season as the favorites to win the program's seventh championship, and third in the last eight years. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic.
Michigan State Spartans (2010-11 Record: 19-15, 9-9 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Tom Izzo (17th season, 383-161)
Head Coach: Tom Izzo (17th season, 383-161)
Projected Starting Lineup: (Stats reflect 2010-11 season)
G Brandon Wood (6-2 Sr., 16.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 46% FG, 36% 3pt, 66% FT, 3.1 APG, 1.7 SPG at Valparaiso)
G Keith Appling (6-1 So., 6.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 44% FG, 41% 3pt, 90% FT, 1.3 APG)
G Branden Dawson (6-6 Fr., 28.7 PPG, 18.6 RPG, 5.6 APG at Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana)
G Keith Appling (6-1 So., 6.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 44% FG, 41% 3pt, 90% FT, 1.3 APG)
G Branden Dawson (6-6 Fr., 28.7 PPG, 18.6 RPG, 5.6 APG at Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana)
F Draymond Green (6-7 Sr., 12.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 43% FG, 37% 3pt, 68% FT, 4.1 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.8 SPG)
C Adreian Payne (6-10 So., 2.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 47% FG, 49% FT)
C Adreian Payne (6-10 So., 2.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 47% FG, 49% FT)
Key Reserves:
C Derrick Nix (6-9 Jr., 2.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 60% FG, 53% FT)
G Austin Thornton (6-5 Sr., 2.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 34% FG, 93% FT)
G Austin Thornton (6-5 Sr., 2.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 34% FG, 93% FT)
Keys To Victory:
- Dominate inside.
- Perimeter offense.
- Get the new guys involved.
Now, for a look at what Sparty matches up against...
No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (2010-11 Record: 29-8, 14-2 ACC)
Head Coach: Roy Williams (9th season at UNC, 225-62; 643-163 overall)
Head Coach: Roy Williams (9th season at UNC, 225-62; 643-163 overall)
Projected Starting Lineup: (Stats reflect 2010-11 season)
G Kendall Marshall (6-4 So., 6.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 42% FG, 38% 3pt, 69% FT, 6.2 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G Dexter Strickland (6-3 Jr., 7.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 46% FG, 69% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F Harrison Barnes (6-8 So., 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 42% FG, 34% 3pt, 75% FT, 1.4 APG)
F John Henson (6-11 Jr., 11.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 50% FG, 48% FT, 3.2 BPG)
C Tyler Zeller (7-0 Sr., 15.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 55% FG, 76% FT, 1.2 BPG)
G Kendall Marshall (6-4 So., 6.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 42% FG, 38% 3pt, 69% FT, 6.2 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G Dexter Strickland (6-3 Jr., 7.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 46% FG, 69% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F Harrison Barnes (6-8 So., 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 42% FG, 34% 3pt, 75% FT, 1.4 APG)
F John Henson (6-11 Jr., 11.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 50% FG, 48% FT, 3.2 BPG)
C Tyler Zeller (7-0 Sr., 15.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 55% FG, 76% FT, 1.2 BPG)
Key Reserves:
G Leslie McDonald (6-5 Jr., 7.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 39% FG, 38% 3pt, 74% FT)
G Reggie Bullock (6-7 So., 6.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 37% FG, 57% FT)
G Reggie Bullock (6-7 So., 6.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 37% FG, 57% FT)
F James Michael McAdoo (6-9 Fr., 21.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG at Norfolk Christian High School in Norfolk, Virginia)
Keys To Victory:
- Prepare for a shootout.
- Pound it inside.
- Bench scoring.
So, Who Wins?
This is not the David vs. Goliath matchup that some are hyping it up to be. Even though North Carolina is far more talented than Michigan State, the Spartans should never be counted out; and return enough significant pieces from a group that nearly came back from a 23-point deficit against UCLA in last year's NCAA Tournament. Green will keep Michigan State in this game early; but as the leader of this younger than usual Spartan unit, he will need to remind his teammates that if North Carolina comes out of the box firing like they did in each of their last two meetings with Tom Izzo's team, it could be over quickly for a team that gets another strong early-season test when they take on Duke at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. The margin for error is razor-thin for this team, as just a handful of mistakes could lead to an 0-2 start. For Carolina, this game marks the start of a two-day, coast-to-coast trip, as they hit the road against reigning Big South champion UNC Asheville on Sunday. It will be one of the more entertaining games (the backdrop alone will provide a reason to watch) of the season, but the greater talent and experience will win out. Carolina takes this one, but not before getting taken as close to the limit as possible in the season opener.
Your Final: North Carolina 86, Michigan State 81
North Carolina and Michigan State in a pregame shootaround aboard the USS Carl Vinson, where they will play tomorrow's Quicken Loans Carrier Classic in first-ever college basketball game on board an aircraft carrier. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports' Seth Davis)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.