Michigan State vs. Texas Tech in the final four: our predictions

Edge: Same

shoals

With MSU's long-distance debut due to injuries to Joshua Langford and Kyle Ahrens, the number of minutes played from the bench is limited. Junior striker Nick Ward, who has been playing for a little over a month in a left-handed operation, shone against the Duke and averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in the NCAA tournament. Gabe Brown has become a vital reinforcement on the wing and he (against LSU) and his first-year teammate Foster Loyer (against Ohio State at the Big Ten tournament) have set up career games that will place them in contradictory screening reports. Texas Tech goes three deep on the bench, with 6-5 Florida graduate transfer Brandone Francis and 6-3 freshman Kyler Edwards spell entrances and help the defense. Edwards and Deshawn Corprew, a 6-5 sophomore forward, 3-point threats exceed 40%.

Edge: Texas Tech

[ Joshua Langford has different view for Michigan State’s Final Four run ]

intangibles

Goins is the only player in the field to have competed in the Final Four in 2015, in his real first year of redshirt, but the Spartans have been eight in the last 20 years. This is the first Final Four for the Red Raiders, who have a veteran presence through graduate transfers. However, MSU seniors Goins and McQuaid played a leading role in critical games in their last days as university players.

Edge: MSU

framing

Disciple of Bobby Knight, former coach of Indiana and Texas Tech, Chris Beard is a promising 46 year old fellow. He has coached at junior, college and division II levels. basic principles on which Tom Izzo founded the MSU foundation during his 24 seasons. Although Beard claimed to have been in the Final Four every year of his coaching career, he has not coached yet. Izzo enters his eighth place, continuing to race after his second national title. It could be a match between the Spartans and Wisconsin in the late 90s and early 2000s, with their similar defensive philosophies.

Edge: MSU

Global

The Spartans have won 14 of their last 15 games, including nine in a row, while Texas Tech has won 13 of its last 14. Both players break out by beating No. 1 seed and play their best basketball in the final. However, MSU has a major motivator that Texas Tech does not have: a Hall of Fame coach who can boast 19 years obsessed with securing a second national title within his reach.

Edge: MSU

predictions

Chris Solari

MSU 66, Texas Tech 60: It will take some time for the Spartans to resolve the Red Raider's "unmediated" defense at the start. But Tom Izzo and MSU have done their best to make and make adjustments at half-time, and these will give him a chance to win a national title on Monday.

Jeff Seidel

MSU 66, Texas Tech 61: Texas Tech has an excellent defense but MSU will win this old-fashioned game – with twists and turns. Texas Tech will have a hard time trapping Cassius Winston and the Spartans will be able to hit the ball inside and get it out quickly, finding the shooters open.