Izzo believes Michigan State has potential to surprise Duke

When the Spartans played the Blue Devils in December, Duke scored the first 13 points and had a 17-point lead three times in the opening nine minutes.

Still, the Spartans managed to make a game of it, closing within three points before finally losing 73-67 in the Great Eight in Chicago.

Despite the troubles early in that game, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he believes the loss will help the Spartans when they face Duke on Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"It gives you some confidence that you played decent against a team," Izzo said Monday. "I think at least our players know their personnel. Our players know what to expect. They know what they do offensively and defensively, so there won't be a lot

AP PHOTO Mateen Cleaves and Michigan State will have reason to celebrate if it can stop Duke in the Final Four on Saturday.

of surprises anywhere."

While Izzo admires Duke's program, its coach and its team, he isn't writing off Michigan State's chances.

Izzo said that his gritty Spartans, come-from-behind victors Sunday over Kentucky, shouldn't be ruled out. Michigan State can be tough enough to handle the Blue Devils.

"There's no bigger upset than Michigan State beating Duke," Izzo said. "All I have to do is make sure our kids understand that. And knowing these players and knowing their toughness, I'm sure we're not going in there scared.

"Nervous, maybe. Scared, no."

The winner between No. 1-rated Duke (36-1) and No. 2 Michigan State (33-4) advances to the championship Monday night, to face either Ohio State or Connecticut. Izzo said Michigan State matches up with Duke somewhat, at least in size. And even though Duke has been the dominant team in college hoops this season, he has hopes for a big upset.

"It's no doubt we're going to be an underdog, but we've been the underdog before," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it; I really am. I'm not looking forward to it in a cocky way, thinking that hey, we're just going to go out and beat Duke, but in a confident way where I think we can do some things."

If the Spartans want some inspiration, they and their fans don't have to look further than Sunday's game, in which Michigan State rebounded from an early 13-point deficit to slam dunk a 73-66 win over Kentucky.

"Remember: A slow start and a good ending is a lot better than a fast start and a bad ending," Izzo said.

Michigan State may pick up an edge from happy Spartans fans. After Sunday's victory, the team returned to Lansing around midnight to find about 300 fans crowding the airport, and Izzo could sense the enthusiasm.

"Yesterday was such an emotional event ... seeing all those people out there at 12:30 at night," he said. "I think the campus is electric right now; people are caught up in the spirit of it.

"Not only the students, but this entire community has kind of taken a grasp of this team."

Among those caught up in the green-and-white spirit are former Spartans players and coaches, many of whom have shown up to root on this year's team.

Watching from the stands in St. Louis on Sunday, among others, were Magic Johnson and former coach Jud Heathcote, who guided Johnson and the Spartans to the NCAA title in 1979.

"It was great he took the time to come back," Izzo said of Heathcote. And, he said, Johnson "thinks we can win it all." "I have a lot of faith in what he thinks, so I'll just go with that," Izzo said.

Michigan State is scheduled to leave Thursday morning for St. Petersburg.

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