Spartans-Huskies: Cooking Up a Showdown in Motown

What is the recipe for a classic Final Four game?

Great coaches, check. Elite point guards, yes. Deep talented teams, of course. Unique, game-changing big men, uh huh.

The game Saturday evening in Detroit, MI between the Connecticut Huskies and the Michigan State Spartans will feature all of the above.

The Spartans, making their fifth trip to the Final Four in 11 years, are as physical and tough nosed as you will find. They have used tough man-to-man defense and all out hustle to advance this far.

The Huskies feature a star-studded lineup and look like an NBA team out on the court. 

Road to Detroit

Michigan State has had the toughest road to the Final Four defeating Big 12 regular-season champs Kansas, winner of the Pac 10 conference tournament USC and top seed Louisville, who won both in the Big East.  

Connecticut hasn't had a cakewalk either. Texas A&M, Purdue, and Missouri gave them all they could handle.

Coaches

Two of the game's greatest will face-off in this matchup. The Spartans' coach, Tom Izzo, has proven once again that he's one of very best, making it to his fifth Final Four (2000 champion) in 11 seasons at MSU. He has a 75 percent winning percentage for his career in the tournament. 

UConn's Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun has made the NCAA Tournament 16 times in his illustrious 23-year career. This will be his third Final Four winning it all in 1999 and 2004. All three trips came through the West Regional, where Connecticut played in this tournament.  He currently has 805 wins.

Team Statistics

Connecticut is the No. 1 team in the nation in blocks per game (7.8), No. 2 in field goal percentage defense (37.6 percent), No. 3 in rebound margin (9.2), and No. 4 in scoring margin (14.7).  

Michigan State is the top rebounding team in the nation (9.6), No. 28 in scoring margin (9), and No. 73 in field goal defense (41.4 percent).

The Players

MSU point guard Kalin Lucas and center Goran Suton have been the stars on offense for State. Travis Walton's defense has been outstanding in the tournament and Durrell Summers has filled in well for the busted up Raymar Morgan. 

Morgan, the team's second leading scorer in the regular season, has only scored in double-figures once since March third.  

UConn is loaded with talent and getting contributions from everyone. Star point guard A.J. Price is averaging 20 points per game in the tournament. Stanley Robinson has posted double-figures in every game.

Hasheem Thabeet is averaging 11.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and two blocks per contest. Jeff Adrien is averaging 14 points per, Craig Austrie had 17 points vs. Purdue, and freshman Kimba Walker had a career high 23 vs. Missouri. 

Key Matchup

Hasheem Thabeet vs. Goran Suton. Thabeet is the college basketball equivalent of Lawrence Taylor. You must always know where he is. Thabeet has been known to alter shots in warm-ups.

Suton has been the Spartans' top outside shooter making him tough to guard.  His ability to shoot could pull Thabeet away from the basket, opening things up on the inside. 

Also, keep your eye on the matchup at point.  Kalin Lucas vs. A.J. Price could be a classic. 

Prediction

Michigan State is 27-0 when holding their opponent under 60 points on the season. They will need to shoot a high percentage and keep the score down. UConn will look to control the middle with Thabeet, Adrian, and Robinson. Despite the home cooking, the Huskies talent will prevail in the end. 

Connecticut 74-Michigan State 68

Player of the Game: A.J. Price