Tom Izzo and Chris Beard will square off for the first time since the 2019 Final Four on Friday night. Beard topped Michigan State basketball 61-51 in their last meeting, but Izzo and Co. are in search of revenge in the ATL.
Michigan State prevailed against New Mexico last weekend despite Jase Richardson’s worst game in the green and white. The freshman phenom shot just 1-for-10 against the Lobos, scoring just six points (his worst mark since early February), but all six came when MSU needed to put the game on ice.
Richardson stole a New Mexico inbound with roughly two minutes to play before being fouled on a 3-point attempt. Richardson went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe across the final 90 seconds, spurring MSU to a 71-63 victory.
Jaden Akins came through amid Richardson’s rough night, recording a team-high 16 points (7-for-11 FG), while Tre Holloman (14) and Frankie Fidler (10) joined the senior in double figures in Cleveland.
While Michigan State has proven it can grind out close victories, it cannot afford another slow start against a fast-paced Ole Miss squad. Just last weekend, the Rebels pulled off a commanding 91-78 upset over Iowa State after quickly disposing of a North Carolina team that looked dominant in the First Four.
Ole Miss shot 11-for-19 (57.9%) from deep against Iowa State and shot nearly 35 percent from beyond the arc on the year.
This season marks the Rebels’ first appearance in March Madness since 2019 and their first trip to the Sweet 16 (the furthest they have ever gone) since 2001. In his second season in Oxford, Beard’s squad finished the regular season 22-11 and 10-8 in SEC play.
Ole Miss is also No. 28 in NET ranking and 13-11 against Quad 1 and 2 opponents, speaking to their ability to handle top-flight competition. The Rebels also possess key victories over Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, and two over Arkansas.
Don’t let that ‘6’ next to their name fool you, this Ole Miss squad is dangerous, and plenty experienced. They stayed afloat in a stacked SEC in large part due to their starting lineup.
The Rebels have six players averaging in double figures (all juniors or seniors), including their entire starting five, which is headlined by Virginia Tech transfer guard Sean Pedulla. He is likely to draw coverage from Akins, an All-Big Ten Defensive Team honoree.
Pedulla, who is averaging an impressive 15.2 points per game while shooting 39 percent from 3-point territory, recorded a team-high 20 points against both the Tar Heels and Cyclones. Forwards Malik Dia and Jaemyn Brakefield (off the bench) amassed 18 and 19 points, respectively, in Milwaukee, and guards Matthew Murrell and Jaylen Murray combined for 26 points of their own.
Both squads play through their guards, with a get-right opportunity on tap for Richardson, while Holloman and freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. will also play a pivotal role in neutralizing the Rebels' backcourt.
With a trip to the Elite Eight on the line, this matchup will surely deliver. If MSU can come out of the gates stronger than they have been, expect a Spartan victory.