Michigan State vs. Duke: 3 things you need to know

The Final Four round of the NCAA tournament is nothing new to Tom Izzo and Mike Krzyzewski.  

The Duke and Michigan State matchup pits two coaches with extensive NCAA tournament résumés against each other. 

As the only non top-seed, Michigan State is the default Cinderella in the Final Four. During their unanticipated deep March run, they have fought through a challenging East Region, knocking off Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville in overtime to make their first appearance in the Final Four since 2010. 

No. 1-seed Duke has looked dominant all season and is riding that power into April. The Blue Devils bumped Robert Morris, San Diego State, Utah and Gonzaga to get a second shot at defeating the Spartans. Duke won their Champions Classic matchup in November.

Here are three things you need to know:

Tom Izzo struggles to seal the deal 

Izzo is legendary when it comes to the NCAA tournament. With a record that boasts 18 consecutive tournament visits with the Spartans, including now nine Elite Eight appearances and seven trips to the Final Four, it is easy to see why the Michigan State coach has been dubbed the Man of March. 

However, the deeper the March tournament run, the more imminent Michigan State’s annual postseason struggle. Like clockwork, the Spartans fail to close on a national title. Despite six Final Four visits, Izzo has reached the national championship game only twice, and sealed the deal only one time with his 2000 squad defeating Florida for the national title. 

Izzo’s opponent has a much more favorable record. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has led the Blue Devils to 11 other Final Four appearances, and traveled to the tournament finale seven times to capture four national titles. Coach K’s ability to extend his March magic into April puts Michigan State’s dream run in jeopardy.    

Justise Winslow is the Duke difference 

Justise Winslow’s tournament flourish has garnered the freshman his own spotlight and buzz separate from his more celebrated freshman teammate Jahlil Okafor. 

The Duke forward ranks in the top three on the team in seven different stat categories, proof that his versatility is the difference between a dominant victory and just scraping by. 

Winslow is a dependable scorer, as he has posted double-digit points in 17 of his last 18 games. The freshman has been instrumental in Duke’s road to the Final Four, averaging 18.5 points and seven rebounds in the Blue Devils’ tough Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight appearances, and effortlessly sinking 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

This is a different Michigan State team

This Michigan State team is not the same one that fell to Duke 81-71 on Nov. 18.  

When Michigan State met Duke early in the season, the Spartans were a young team trying to find their chemistry without Adreian Payne and Gary Harris, now both in the NBA. A victory should have come to Michigan State, who shot 50 percent from the field and out-rebounded Duke 35-25. However, 13 turnovers and 22 personal fouls kept victory out of reach for the Spartans, allowing the Blue Devils to head to the line 26 times and sink 20 shots. 

Michigan State has seen dramatic improvement since that 10-point loss. Izzo's power trio of Travis Trice, Branden Dawson and Denzel Valentine led the Spartans to win eight of their last 11 conference games. The team also defeated NCAA tournament-caliber squads Ohio State and Maryland in the Big Ten tournament, and got close to a Big Ten title.

With a 23-point outburst against Virginia’s legendarily stout defense, Trice has turned up the heat in his tournament play. Trice’s maturity and experience is crucial to the Spartans, averaging 19.7 points and four assists in four tournament games. 

There is no doubt that the Spartans have reviewed November's tape ad nauseam and are determined to ensure that history will not repeat itself.