Duke beats Michigan State in battle of true coaching legends
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
I know, the word legend gets thrown around quite a bit. Heck, I used it in the title of the very site you’re reading.
I believe you can get away with that in Indiana, though, because that word applies quite often here. It makes sense.
Legend applied to the coaching in the Sweet 16 matchup between Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo on Friday night. Duke won 71-61 in a matchup of coaching greatness so big it fittingly was held in a football stadium in the Hoosier State.
Here are game highlights, courtesy of the NCAA:
The thing that was different about this game for me as an observer was that I’ve watched the Spartans hang around and hang around so many times over the years, then grind opponents down, overtake them and win. That’s how Izzo claims a fair share of his big games.
I looked at a colleague during the game and almost said ‘you can’t let Michigan State hang around.’ Then, I thought about who was on the other sideline.
That was the difference. Izzo is almost always the better coach, and given equal talent, he will almost always win. This time, the Izzo mystique meant absolutely nothing. Duke was just as tough. Duke weathered every storm. Duke exposed Michigan State’s weaknesses the way Michigan State exposes everyone else’s. And that’s why Duke is still playing. And that is why Krzyzewski is still the man.
It was well worth watching, and Sunday, we’ll have another matchup of coaching greatness worthy of being played in the heart of Indiana.
Krzyzewski vs. Pitino.
Can’t wait.
Here is the link to my Sports XChange/Reuters game story: Duke 71, Michigan State 61.
Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbrunt_isl.
