Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (2-0, 0-0) will take the court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the No. 19 Michigan State Spartans (1-0, 0-0) in a big-time matchup that can be live streamed free by clicking this link. Duke fans can hear the game on 620 The Buzz AM, while Michigan State fans may do likewise on Detroit 950 AM.
Duke and Michigan State are regulars in the deep stages of March Madness largely because of nights like tonight, when they get an early taste of raucous atmospheres in which the crowd isn't totally behind them.
"That setting will be a Final Four setting," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said of tonight's double-header that also features Kentucky and Kansas. "All four of them are potential, along with about 20 others, of being a Final Four team so that will be a great setting for this squad to be in this early."
This will be a major outing for star Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor, billed by many as a potential Player of the Year candidate. Through two games he is averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds; still he said he's focused on fitting within the team framework, not stealing the show.
"One of our main things is sharing the ball," Okafor said. "Everybody's eating right now."
For Michigan State much of the burden to create and score will fall on senior guard Travis Trice, who lit up the scoreboard in the Spartans' first game. He had 25 points, five rebounds and five assists, but wasn't in any mood after their opening win to discuss his stellar play.
"It's not about me right now. It's about the team," Trice said following close shave vs. Navy. "We've got to figure out what we're doing wrong. That's not how we want to play."
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