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WASHINGTON – As soon as the media was announced, this match was anticipated. Analysts enthusiastically predicted the showdown. Fans complained about the potential of the best seed # 1 versus best # 2. And now, two weeks later, the match has arrived.
The ACC tournament champion against the tournament champion Big Ten. Duke and his freshmen against the state of Michigan and his experience. Tom Izzo vs. Mike Krzyzewski, 19th Final Four places away between the two. National Player of the Year candidates Zion Williamson and Cassius Winston share the same court.
"That's why you come to college," said Williamson, National Player of the Year's favorite, "to be part of games like this."
Duke (32-5) enters the Eastern Region blockbuster final, capturing spectacular late-second wins over No. 4 Virginia Tech and No. 9 Central Florida. Cam Reddish (knee), who missed the Sweet 16 win over the Hokies, is arguably his third top scorer and top-10 pick, and now faces his toughest test in the Spartans physical.
Michigan State (31-6) won all three tournament games with an average of 16 points. He has lost only once since February 5, winning 13 of his last 14 games. He is fourth on the margin of rebound (plus 9.5), third in assistance (18.6) and tied for third (5.5). And unlike Duke, the Izzo team has already crossed the month of March, relying mainly on two seniors and two juniors.
"We have a big mission ahead of us," said Williamson. "I expect the physical level to be at its level [highest]because it's the elite eight. Nobody wants to go home. "
Nevertheless, Duke will have the two best players on the set, Williamson and RJ Barrett, the first two potential picks in the NBA draft in June. Since Williamson – the imposing six-foot-seven-and-285-pound phenomenon – has returned from a sprained right knee, the Blue Devils have won six straight victories – beating Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Florida State. Williamson averaged 26.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and shot 70.1 percent of this world out of the ordinary during this period.
"Khalil Mack is a guy I watch and say," Damn, if I could borrow someone from the Bears, maybe we could cover him, "Izzo jokingly said. "He made the incredible first step. That's the reason he does all these flights. It can take a dribble and cover more space than most human beings I know how to do. And then he has the strength to finish at the end.
"So he's not Superman, but he's very close."
Against Izzo, Krzyzewski was also almost superhuman, holding a lifetime record of 11-1. The two teams met for the final time of the year in the 2015 Final Four, with Duke winning a 20-point victory en route to his last national championship. Izzo was enthusiastic about Krzyzewski's adaptability, describing him as a "chameleon – he can just find a way to make it work for him".
"You always keep an eye on programs – and I think everyone does it in life – that have been successful," said Izzo. "And you try to understand how they do it, and how do you fight them? And I understood a little bit how they did it. I also did not understand how to beat them. I'm still working on it. "
Izzo's players hope to win their second victory against Duke. They knew that this was possible when the media were released, and they are ready to eliminate the team chosen by all those who would win everything in November.
"Now that we are in this situation, we are not afraid of it," said Winston, the Big Ten player of the year. "We meet the challenges. We seize the opportunities. "
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