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2019 NCAA Tournament: 5 best potential match-ups in the East Region

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 16: Teammates RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils react after defeating the Florida State Seminoles 73-63 in the championship game of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 16: Teammates RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils react after defeating the Florida State Seminoles 73-63 in the championship game of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

(2) Michigan State vs (1) Duke

This is a match-up that we would all love to see for so many reasons.

Obviously, a 1 vs. 2 in the elite 8 is becoming less and less common these days, but also the star power and grit both of these teams have showed this season could make for an electric match-up. Tom Izzo and Mike Kryzewski are two of the all-time greats who know how to get it done in March, and both coaches have their teams hot at the right time.

Duke is the prohibitive favorite to win it all, but Sparty’s ability to dictate the pace and make it a half court game could pose some interesting problems. Add in Duke’s starting center Marques Bolden being sidelined with an injury, and all of a sudden this game becomes Zion Williamson vs. State’s front line of Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman.

Next. Louisville basketball: Likes and dislikes about NCAA Tournament draw. dark

Not to mention that MSU’s Cassius Winston’s savvy would likely be matched up with Trey Jones, who is trending upward at the right time. Though Michigan State is battling depth issues, this game could absolutely be a barn burner.

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