Duke vs. Michigan State: Spartans Have Legitimate Shot to Upset Blue Devils

The 2011-12 season was bound to be a tough one for Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans amidst a wholesale rebuilding project.

Playing their first two games against No. 1 North Carolina and No. 6 Duke, the top two teams in the ACC and two of the most talented teams in all of college basketball, can't do much to accelerate the process for the Spartans.

Not that Mike Krzyzewski's squad cares all that much.

The Blue Devils face off against Sparty at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic. It will mark the second time in as many seasons these two powerhouses have met in a marquee, early-season matchup.

Duke downed MSU at Cameron Indoor Stadium 84-79 a year ago.

Gone from last year's teams are Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving for Duke, and Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Korie Lucious and Delvon Roe for Michigan State.

Coach K did quite well to cover for his losses, bringing in a star-studded recruiting class led by Austin Rivers, Quinn Cook and Marshall Plumlee (yes, there's a third Plumlee).

They will replenish a team still dressing Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly and the elder two Plumlee brothers.

As for Michigan State? Good question.

Tom Izzo raked in a six-man class to fill out his roster. But only small forward Branden Dawson, who scored 10 points and pulled down seven boards against UNC in the Carrier Classic, grades out as an immediate contributor.

That being said, Sparty actually have a shot to upset Dickie V's favorite Dukies in this one.

They played the Tar Heels tough atop the USS Carl Vinson last Friday, out-rebounding the preseason favorites by a margin of 42-31, including a 19-6 advantage on the offensive boards.

The same day, the Blue Devils were nearly upended in Durham by the "mighty" Belmont Bruins, with whom they pulled even on the boards.

The Bruins' big front line, led by forward-centers Scott Saunders and Mick Hedgepath, gave Duke fits all night.

And guess who else has two thumbs and a pretty hefty crop of forwards? Sparty, of course!

Izzo figures to give minutes to at least three guys who stand 6'9" or taller—Adreian Payne, Derrick Nix and Alex Gauna—along with the 6'6" Dawson and 6'7" bulldozer Draymond Green.

So long as Michigan State's guards can get them the ball against Duke's pressing defense, the fans in New York should be seeing green all night.

What's more, the Blue Devils will have the added pressure of playing for Coach K's 903rd career win. A Duke win would push him ahead of former Indiana coach and mentor Bobby Knight atop the all-time coaching wins list in Division I history.

Not that any, or all, of that will necessarily make this a walkover for Michigan State.

But with both teams lacking a definitive identity in the early going, Sparty should be able to take advantage of at least one set of Tobacco Road blue bloods.