Denzel Valentine and Michigan State are playing great heading into their matchup with Louisville.
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Michigan State is 6-1 against the spread in their last seven home games, 4-1 against the spread against the ACC, and 5-2 against the spread following a game that they covered the point spread.
Poljan, also a dual-threat quarterback, has offers from Nebraska and Minnesota. But for Michigan State to make a run at conference and national titles others will need to step up and do so consistently. A shovel shot by Valentine pushed Michigan State’s lead to seven points with just under two minutes left. Davis was a five-star recruit and has come in and played well from the start.
Michael Gbinije led Syracuse with 19 points.
Louisville’s first true road game of the season was a validation that this group is much better than was at first feared or predicted depending on who you talked to. This Cardinals team is very different than last year’s team and they haven’t really played anyone yet so this will be a big test for them.
Without Montrezl Harrell or Terry Rozier this year, Louisville has been led by senior guard Damion Lee. Michigan State is averaging 85 points and they are shooting 51 percent from the floor while defensively they are allowing 62.6 points and they are shooting 39 percent. Lewis quickly answered that with one of his own to give the Cardinals a 13-point lead at 21-8.
The senior scored 20 to help UNC beat No. 2 Maryland 89-81 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, showing no ill effects from the broken bone in his right hand nor rust from the layoff.
Ben Bentil led the Friars (7-1) with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, and Jalen Lindsey added 15 points off the bench. The redshirt freshman forward had 13 rebounds, equaling his total from his first seven games, and scored a career-high five points.
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These two teams met in the Elite Eight previous year in a game which Michigan State ended up winning. He finished with 10 points as the Bulldogs won the first game between the schools since the 1997 NCAA Tournament. Izzo has beaten Pitino in two of their three matchups. For the Michigan State radio broadcast go here and for the Louisville radio broadcast go here.
