Duke vs Michigan State headlines a loaded college basketball slate that deserves attention before March
Most sports fans don't start paying attention to college basketball until February or March, and that's unfortunate.
- But don't sleep on Sparty; TeamRankings and KenPom rated Michigan State eighth entering the season.
- One thing the sport does really well is pack the early-season slate with massive matchups, thanks to events like the Champions Classic and the ACC/SEC Challenge.
- 2 Duke at the United Center in Chicago as part of the State Farm Champions Classic.
Michigan State went 27-8 and reached the Sweet 16 last season, and the Spartans bring back Jeremy Fears Jr., who averaged 15.2 points and led the nation with 9.4 assists per game.
TOM IZZO, DAN HURLEY CONTINUE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY WHILE AMERICA GETS SOFTER The key to this matchup is whether Fears can consistently create good shots against Duke's strong defense and whether Michigan State's rebuilt frontcourt can handle Duke's size.
- College basketball in the transfer portal and NIL era is weird like that.
- Sharpshooter Donovan Atwell returns after making 130 three-pointers last season, and Darrion Williams is back after spending a year at NC State.
- Let's dive into a fantastic early-season slate of college hoops.
- Duke, meanwhile, went 35-3 last season before its run ended in the Elite Eight on a miracle buzzer-beater by UConn's Braylon Mullins.
- Gibbs-Lawhorn also spent his first two college seasons at Illinois, so there should be some familiar faces on the other bench.
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