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Tampa subregional
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2003
They've got the experience, the coaching and all of the key components -- a superb scorer, outside shooter, shot-blocker and rebounder -- to pull off the opening-round win.
That might sound like a description of Michigan State, but it could just as easily be said about Colorado. Which is why CU is the most likely team to pull off an upset today at the St. Pete Times Forum.
No. 10-seed Colorado won just three road games this season, but that fact is a little misleading because this isn't a road game. It's on a neutral court, and CU is 3-1 on neutral courts.
Michigan State has the edge in NCAA Tournament experience, but not as much as most perceive. Most of Michigan State's key players are sophomores or freshmen, who have, at most, played in one NCAA Tournament game, a 69-58 loss last season to North Carolina State.
The Buffaloes are a mature, veteran team, if not NCAA-tested. Their four double-figure scorers have been in Boulder for a combined 12 seasons, and leading scorer Michel Morandais is 24 years old. Coach Ricardo Patton, in his eighth season, said he was concerned about his team having the jitters, but nerves should be a factor for no more than the first few possessions.
Colorado also should be getting an emotional lift from Morandais, who figures to be at or near full strength for the first time since March 1. The 6-foot-5 junior, who averages 17 points, has been nursing a sore ankle. He missed one game and has scored just 24 in the other three combined. It has been a week since CU last played, so Morandais should be close to 100 percent.
CU's biggest obstacle might be acclimation. It was unable to depart Wednesday because of a massive snowstorm. Trapped in Boulder, CU watched videotape. The Buffaloes left early Thursday morning and drove two hours to Colorado Springs, where they caught a charter to Tampa.
Meanwhile, Michigan State has been here since Wednesday. Advantage Spartans.
The Buffaloes match up well across the starting five and might have a slight edge.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said it is an even matchup, which makes it the most likely upset of the day.