Texas-Michigan State: What to Watch for

Whenever the Texas Longhorns and the Michigan State Spartans get together, you are almost guaranteed a physical, down-to-the-wire slugfest.

In the latest installment of the Texas-Michigan State matchup, the Longhorns (10-0) look to continue their impressive early season run after dominating 10th ranked North Carolina 103-90 on Saturday.

Many wondered how good the Longhorns really were after playing a relatively soft non-conference schedule, but the dominating performance reaffirmed that Texas is among the elite teams in the country.

Seniors Damion James and Dexter Pittman are at the center of a very talented Texas squad that is firmly in the hunt for a national championship this season.

Michigan State (9-2) is off to a good start as well, despite narrow losses to Florida and North Carolina.

The Spartans are searching for their first signature victory of the season, and if recent history is any indication, Michigan State has a good shot to pull of the upset Tuesday night in Austin.

The Spartans have won the last three matchups in this series, including a 67-63 win over the Longhorns in Houston last season.

It is no secret that Michigan State wants to slow down the Longhorns' high-flying offensive attack that is averaging 87 points per game.  While the Spartans have been successful in forcing Texas to play at slower tempos the last few years, this could be the best Longhorns squad Michigan State has faced.

Roy Williams' Carolina team has always been an incredible up-and-down team, yet the Longhorns were able to out-run the Tar Heels when it was all said and done.

Much of Texas' success has come from the amazing depth the Longhorns possess.

Behind the solid play of James and Pittman, the talented freshman crop has really come to play for Texas.  Avery Bradley, widely regarded as one of the best high school players in America, has made his presence felt, averaging 11 points a game in just 24 minutes.

J'Covan Brown, the Horns' best free-throw shooter, has been excellent in the early going, running the point and nailing shots from deep.

Jordan Hamilton has put in some good minutes on both ends of the court, as well.

Texas' best attribute may very well be its depth down low.  When Big Dex sits, Gary Johnson, Alexis Wangmene, Clint Chapman, and Matt Hill are able to crash the boards with ferocity, wearing down teams over the course of the game.

The Longhorns' struggles with Michigan State have been mainly due to the Spartan's suffocating defense and physical play.  The Spartans like to slow the tempo down and force teams to work for every shot.

The Spartans, despite losing defensive specialists Travis Walton and Goran Suton, have been terrific on defense, limiting teams to 38 percent shooting (29 percent from three-point range).

Senior forward Raymar Morgan has been the thorn in the Longhorns' side in each of the last three matchups.  In those three games, Morgan averaged 14 points and four rebounds, and was terrific on defense.

Coach Tom Izzo has to be pleased with the offensive balance he has seen so far this season.  Five Spartans are averaging double figures with junior guard Kalin Lucas leading the way with 16 points per game.

Keys to the Game

Texas

The Longhorns must force the Spartans to run early and often.  Texas was lulled into a slow, physical game last season that favored the Spartans and their stingy defense.

Getting Avery Bradley and J'Covan Brown hot from three-point range could loosen up the Spartans down low, making it easier for Damion James and company to attack the rim.

Getting Dexter Pittman (14 points, seven rebounds per game) involved early is of vital importance.  The Texas big man needs to establish his presence in the paint and stay out of foul trouble.  Last season, the Spartans were able to dominate inside with the lack of an imposing force down low for the Longhorns.

Michigan State

The Spartans need to stick with the formula: force Texas to play slow.  It has worked in the past, and they need to continue that strategy if they have any chance of hanging with the fast-paced Texas offense.

Michigan State needs to crash the boards.  The Longhorns are leading the nation in rebounds per game at 46.  Texas racked up an incredible 29 offensive rebounds against North Carolina, giving the Longhorns multiple shots per possession and eventually wearing down the Tar Heels.

The Spartans average 14 offensive rebounds per game, so if they can win the rebounding battle and get multiple looks at the basket, they could very well win the game.

Matchups to Watch

Damion James vs. Raymar Morgan

James is the heart and soul of the Texas attack, as he averages 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.  He took over the game against North Carolina with his 25-point, 15-rebound outburst.

Morgan (10 points, five rebounds per game) may be Michigan State's best defender, and he's proven that in three games against the Longhorns.

James is at his best when he can drive into the lane and either pull up for an easy jumper or drive past the defender and finish at the rim.  Morgan must force James to play away from the basket, preferably around the perimeter where he isn't as effective.

Taking James out of the equation, or at least slowing him down, would force the Texas freshmen to take, and make, the big shots.

Avery Bradley vs. Durrell Summers

Bradley has been Texas' deadliest weapon from deep so far this season, hitting 40 percent of his shots from three-point range.

He came up with several big shots on Saturday that kept the Tar Heel defense honest to Texas' perimeter game.

Last season, Durrell Summers was charged with shadowing three-point ace A.J. Abrams and he stuck to him like glue, holding Abrams to just eight points.

Bradley isn't as efficient from deep as Abrams, but he can still get on a roll and nail shots, so it's important for Summers to keep him off the three-point line and make him uncomfortable early.

The Longhorns and Spartans square off in Austin at 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT on Tuesday night.