Vitale: Sweet Sixteen Preview (Friday Edition)
Dick Vitale
SPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
The second half of the Sweet 16 is going to be exciting. Friday night's action will finalize the Elite Eight.
Memphis vs. Michigan State
This is my linguini special, two guys I truly love in paisons Tom Izzo and John Calipari.
You can talk about Drew Neitzel, Chris Douglas-Roberts or Derrick Rose as the key player in this match-up. I feel it will be Joey Dorsey; he must be brilliant on the glass and in the lane like he was against Mississippi State before foul trouble hit. Dorsey is going against four very physical frontcourt players for the Spartans – Goran Suton, Drew Naymick, Idong Ibok and Marquise Gray. You can also factor in Raymar Morgan in this equation.
If Dorsey is rebounding, and doing the things he can physically on the interior, Memphis will be tough to beat. The Tigers are athletic and can run.
Calipari may be concerned with the fact Douglas-Roberts is from the Motor City. Will the superstar try to play beyond himself because of bragging rights against all of his buddies from Michigan State.
Even though he denies it, free throw shooting could be an Achilles heel for Memphis. So far in the tournament, the Tigers have missed 30 from the foul line. Will it eventually catch up with them?
The Spartans need Neitzel and Kalin Lucas to duplicate their performance enjoyed against Pittsburgh. If they struggle, they will get blown out. If that duo plays to its potential, this could be shock city.
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