Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons the Spartans will beat Duke in Elite 8

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with teammate Xavier Tillman #23 against the LSU Tigers during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

1. Michigan State is playing its best basketball to date

Since losing at Indiana near the end of the season, Michigan State has been red-hot. The Spartans proceeded to beat Michigan at home on Senior Day to capture a share of the regular season Big Ten title and then they beat the Wolverines again in the conference tournament title game.

Three wins later — two in comfortable fashion — and the Spartans are in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2014-15 with a chance to make their first Final Four since that season.

This team isn’t just playing well, but it’s arguably performing the best it has all season long and it’s due to the hot starts over the past two games. Michigan State jumped out to early double-digit leads against both Minnesota and LSU and never trailed in each contest, pretty much holding 10-15 point advantages throughout each game.

Michigan State is playing its best basketball and it also finished up a game in which it recorded only seven turnovers against LSU.

Next. 5 reasons Michigan State can win the national title. dark

With Michigan State playing its best basketball of the season, gaining even more confidence than it had heading into the Big Dance, Duke is going to have its hands full.

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