March Madness 2019: 5 reasons Duke won't win the national title

March Madness 2019: 5 reasons Duke won’t win the national title

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 15: Cam Reddish #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles down court against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game in the semifinals of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 17: Michigan State Spartans forward Xavier Tillman (23) celebrates with Michigan State Spartans guard Cassius Winston (5) after a play during a Big Ten Tournament Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans on March 17, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 2: Michigan State is pretty darn good

The Blue Devils ended up with the presumptive fourth 1-seed in their bracket, the team that is basically the fifth seed in the whole bracket. That’s a bad draw, considering Michigan and Tennessee give Gonzaga and Virginia a clearer path to the Final Four for sure.

The Spartans also have a few components that are successful in March and could be particularly frustrating for Duke. First, they are led by the dynamic playmaker Cassius Winston. But beyond Winston, they have size at all five positions to offset the versatility of Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett.

Michigan State’s ninth-ranked offense is buoyed by expert passing (they’re first in the country in total assists this season) and individual talent. The three top wings on their roster all shot better than 39 percent from 3, led by Matt McQuaid’s 42.3 percent on 4.6 attempts per game. The Spartans are able to space the floor for Winston incredibly well.

That will help limit the defensive impact of Williamson and Tre Jones for Duke. As a byproduct, it will also means Michigan State could control the pace better than the other teams Duke has faced this season. That was one of the keys for Gonzaga’s early-season win over the Blue Devils.

Of course, Michigan State could lose early and give Duke an even easier road. But if Duke has to go through the East’s 2-seed, it will be a hell of a matchup.

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