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Texas Tech basketball: First look at Michigan State

By Matthew Conner

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

MSU is a top-10 defensive team

The story of this year’s Final Four is the defenses that have carried all four teams to Minneapolis.  All four squads are in the top 38 nationally in the KenPom.com adjusted defensive efficiency rankings.  While Tech checks in at No. 1 and Virginia at No. 5, the Spartans are no slouch at No. 9,  giving up 90.1 points per possession.

Overall, Izzo’s team is allowing 65.1 p.p.g., No. 30 in the nation.  They have held 28 opponents below 70 points, which is just three fewer than the number of Texas Tech opponents to crack 70 points.  And neither of these teams have allowed more than 69 points in the NCAA Tournament.

But Tech and MSU go about playing defense in vastly different ways.  Whereas Tech relies on elite athleticism and versatility to switch ball screens and pressure opponents on the perimeter, MSU uses its bevy of bulky defenders to clog up the middle of the paint.

"Their defensive spacing is really, really good. Well-coached. It’s difficult to get a clean look,” an anonymous coach told NBCSports.com.  “They’re a great pack defense and a great screen and roll defense. That actually plays into Texas Tech’s hands a little bit, they don’t run a lot of ball-screens.”"

"“They’re a really good defense, but they’re not going to pressure or deny,” another coach told NBCSports.  “You are going to get the ball where you want to. You won’t get it into the paint, but we never felt like we couldn’t run our stuff against them.”"

This defensive strategy could be good news for a Texas Tech team that usually deploys at least four players that can hit mid-range jumpers.  But will Jarrett Culver be able to get to the rim and finish agains the Spartan’s bulk inside?

A key could be whether or not Tariq Owens can hit his mid-range jumpers.  If he can make his defender respect his ability to shoot the ball, it will take a brick out of MSU’s interior wall.

Also, Matt Mooney should get plenty of looks in the mid-range.  Fortunately, he has been solid in that regard in the NCAA Tournament hitting 9 of his 20 jumpers inside the 3-point line.

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