Louisville vs Michigan State: NCAA Tournament Showdown

0:00On March 21, Louisville Cardinals faced the Michigan State Spartans and the second round of the East Region at the NCAA Tournament. The 6th seeded cards come in at 24 wins and 10 losses, while the 3rd seeded Spartans hold a 26 and 7 mark. Tip-off is at 2.45 pm from Keybank Center in Buffalo, New York, airing on CBS. Michigan State is favored by 4.5 points, with the all-time series tied at 6 games a piece. Michigan State plays classic Tom Isobal, grinding with elite defense and rebounding. They top the nation on the defensive glass. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. leads with 9.2 assists per game and scores 15.2 points. Their big front court of Jackson-Colar, Carson Cooper, and Cohen Carr. Battles hard inside, wearing teams down in low possession games. Louisville pulled off a solid first round win and now eyes its first sweet 16 since 2015. The cards must hit open threes against MSU's scheme that pushes shots from outside.

1:03Protect the ball to win the turnover battle and crash the boards. Coach Pat Kelsey stresses effort on defense and free throws to stay competitive. Both programs boast deep tournament runs. Michigan State on its 28th straight appearance, Louisville and its 45th overall. They've met four times before in the dance, splitting wins, and the underdog has taken four of the last six head to heads. Common foes this year include Kentucky and Indiana, both beaten by each team. Expect the tight battle where execution decides it, per Ken Pomeroy's call of Michigan State 77, Louisville 75. The whichever side dictates tempo in the glass could punch that next ticket.