Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions for second-round Duke battle

1. Tom Izzo beats Coach K one last time

The all-time record between Tom Izzo and Coach K isn’t pretty, but this is a good opportunity for the Spartan head coach to avenge two decades full of losses and beat the Blue Devils one final time with the Hall of Fame coach in charge.

Izzo has won two of the last three meetings against Coach K, including in the 2019 Elite Eight when Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman led the Spartans past Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish, making yet another Final Four. It was arguably the best win (outside of a national title) in Izzo’s career and “the shot” by Kenny Goins still gives fans goosebumps.

Sunday’s matchup is an opportunity to knock the Blue Devils out of the NCAA Tournament one final time with Coach K at the helm and it would be the perfect revenge story for Izzo.

Having a career record of 3-12 against Coach K after starting 1-11 isn’t great, but Michigan State has had Duke’s number in recent years and this would just be a heck of an ending to the rivalry between the coaches which would just make sense.

Owning Izzo for most of his career, Coach K is going to get knocked out by the Spartans’ head coach and have his career ended by Michigan State in a two-point game. How fitting.