TV info, storylines for U of L-Michigan State
U OF L VS. MICHIGAN STATE
Game time: 2:20 p.m. Site: The Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y. Line: Michigan State by 2 1/2 points. Series: Louisville leads 5-3 and won the last meeting 57-44 in the 2012 West region semifinals. Television: CBS. Radio: WHAS-840.
PROJECTED STARTERS
MICHIGAN STATE (26-11)
Pos.-Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.
G-Tum Tum Nairn 5-10 Fr. 1.6 2.2
G-Travis Trice 6-0 Sr. 3.1 15.3
G-Denzel Valentine 6-5 Jr. 6.1 14.3
F-Branden Dawson 6-6 Sr. 9.1 11.9
F-Gavin Schilling 6-9 So. 3.9 5.2
Key reserves - Bryn Forbes, G, 6-3, Jr., 8.6 pts.; Matt Costello, F, 6-9, Jr., 7.1; Marvin Clark, F, 6-6, Fr., 4.6; Alvin Ellis, G, 6-4, So., 1.8; Colby Wollenman, F, 6-7, R-Jr., 1.2.
LOUISVILLE (27-8)
Pos.-Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.
G-Quentin Snider 6-1 Fr.1.5 4.1
G-Terry Rozier 6-1 So. 5.5 17.2
F-Wayne Blackshear 6-5 Sr. 4.3 11.1
F-Montrezl Harrell 6-8 Jr. 9.2 15.7
C-Mangok Mathiang 6-10 R-So. 4.6 2.5
Key reserves – Chinanu Onuaku, F, 6-10, Fr., 3.0 pts.; Shaqquan Aaron, F, 6-7, Fr., 1.3; Anas Mahmoud, F, 7-0, Fr., 1.2; Anton Gill, G, 6-3, So., 2.6; Jaylen Johnson, F, 6-9, Fr., 1.2; David Levitch, G, 6-3, So., 1.2.
STORY LINES
A rematch of the 2012 West region semifinals, Louisville and Michigan State are meeting on different terms this time around. The Cardinals were a No. 4 seed in both games, but Michigan State enters Sunday's game as a 7 seed, not the top seed it was three years ago. That run was surprising for Louisville, and this year's runs have been surprising for both teams. Michigan State was 9-5 by New Year's, and 19-10 after a two-game losing streak, but the Spartans turned things around with a 72-66 win vs. Purdue and have won seven of their last eight. Louisville had a rough February, and many wrote the Cardinals off, but they found their mojo in late February and have won seven of their last nine.
Related:Rozier's rises to the occasion in Sweet 16
How about the play of freshman point guard Quentin Snider? The 6-foot-1 Louisville native was confident in replacing dismissed point guard Chris Jones, but his three NCAA tournament games have taken his production to the next level. Snider only has two turnovers in the tournament. He averages 13.3 points, four rebounds and two assists in 36.3 minutes a game. Not bad for a kid who wasn't playing much more than a reserve role for most of the season. "He's good," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "He's solid. He kind of knows, it seems like, who he is ... He's the facilitator."
Transcripts from Saturday's Izzo, Pitino Q&As
The best matchup in Sunday's game? Well, it's hard to pick just one. There's Wayne Blackshear vs. Denzel Valentine, two very good 6-foot-5 wings who can shoot and attack off the dribble. There's also Terry Rozier vs. Travis Trice, the two off guards who make things happen for their teams. But the most intriguing showdown is between Montrezl Harrell and Branden Dawson. Michigan State has its hands full with Harrell, who dropped 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists on NC State and scored every possible way. But Dawson is a crafty, undersized big man himself, and whichever guy takes the lead on Sunday may indicate which team wins.