Michigan State vs Delaware LIVE Stream: Spartans Must Deal With Pressure of Being Heavily Favored
ByThe Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (13) may have the most unlucky first round draw for a double-digit seed, as they go up against the widely-favored Michigan State Spartans (4).
Experts at ESPN, in Las Vegas and even the President of the United States have picked Michigan State to go all the way and will the title game. Delaware coach Monte Ross said jokingly that if Michigan State had any weakness it would be "Coach Izzo's lack of tournament experience."
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The irony is clear, as Tom Izzo has a terrific winning percentage in the regular season and seven appearances in the Elite Eight, including one National Championship win.
"In watching them, they just keep getting better and better," Ross said ahead of the game against the Spartans, according to the Associated Press. "So I think I'm just going to do myself a service and stop watching them."
Michigan State won 18 of its first 19 games and spent three weeks in Nov. as the AP's number one team. The injury and illness bugs each bit the Spartans hard, as they had to play without players like Gary Harris, Keith Appling, Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson at certain times this year. They have been at full strength since March 1 and have since won the Big Ten Tournament.
"I thought we got some of our identity back," Izzo said of getting Dawson back just before the end of the regular season, according to the AP. "And that's what you need if you're going to make a run of any kind in the tournament."
Izzo has said he will try to nip the pressure being placed on his team right in the bud. With pundits, experts and the President favoring his squad, he knows his players are bound to have nerves.
Ross has taken a different approach.
"I just told the guys, if we are able to play the way I expect us to play, I'll probably get a call from Warren Buffett, because he'll be the happiest person in the world," he said. "We'll break up everybody's bracket and there will be no billion-dollar payout."