As the madness marches into the final day of Elite 8 games, the stage is set for a showdown of powerhouses and perennial contenders. Auburn and Michigan State collide in a clash of veteran coaches, toughness and tempo — Bruce Pearl’s blazing Tigers meeting Tom Izzo’s tournament-tested Spartans.
On the other side, there’s a heavyweight tilt between Houston’s suffocating defense and Tennessee’s balanced attack. All told, four programs, two tickets to the Final Four and most likely one unforgettable day of March drama. Let the chaos continue. The Athletic has you covered with pregame and postgame analysis.
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Tennessee
2:20 p.m. ET on CBS
These are two of the more physical defenses in the country, both ranking in the top 3 in adjusted defensive efficiency. As a result, this could be a low-scoring game with a ton of free throws and foul calls. The little things will determine the outcome — hustle plays, momentum shifts and shot selection.
Houston is nearly unbeatable when it shoots around 42 percent from the field, posting a 31-1 record.
Tennessee, at times, can be offensively challenged, so its ability to get stops is even more important. Sometimes getting down by 5, 6 or 7 points seems like a double-digit deficit. Of the Volunteers’ seven losses this season, three have come when they shot 35 percent from the floor and the other four when they shot less than 25 percent from 3.
Houston is the best 3-point shooting team in the country, but almost no one guards the 3 like the Volunteers (3rd nationally). The Cougars will need their 3-headed monster of guards LJ Cryer, Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp to all play well and make shots.
Tennessee has size in the paint, so to create paint touches, it must make shots.
Matchups to watch are Uzan versus Zakai Zeigler and Cryer versus Chaz Lanier.
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Michigan State
5:05 p.m. ET on CBS
I won’t talk about Auburn’s slow starts anymore, it’s just how they operate and they always play their best basketball when it matters to win games.
Michigan State wants to play free, and Ole Miss did a good job of applying ball pressure Friday, preventing the Spartans from playing their up-and-down style of play. Auburn doesn’t apply the same pressure, so the Spartans should be able to attack the rim at will in transition, creating quick points for Izzo’s squad.
Michigan State has comparable size to Auburn and is also one of the premier offensive rebounding teams in the country.
An issue that may hurt the Spartans is their lack of 3-point shooting, as they are the worst team left in the field from behind the arc (31.1 percent)
If they can’t keep Auburn’s defense honest, they may have long scoring droughts, which plays right into the Tigers’ hands. Auburn thrives on defensive stops and can turn those points quickly, and that’s where the Tigers bury teams.
AP first team All-American Johni Broome has been good this tournament, but I’m waiting for him to have a POY performance. Michigan State is physical but doesn’t have a big man to match Broome’s ability. Do the Spartans send doubles his way or guard him straight up? Look for him to put up monster numbers as he tries to send his team to the Final.
(Houston players celebrating after defeating Purdue on Friday: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
