College Basketball has returned to action this season, and while most schools are playing inferior opponents, we do finally have a few ranked matchups.
asserted
we → return → matchups
This is pretty much what happens every season.
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what → happen → ?
Most schools play lower-level clubs so they can get some easy wins out of the way, figure out their offense, and make adjustments before the Thanksgiving tournaments.
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they → play → tournaments
Tonight, we have the State Farm Champions Classic, featuring two of the best in the country: Michigan State vs. Duke.
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we → have → Duke
Michigan State comes into the game with a ranking of fifth in the nation, and at least part of that is due to its returning players.
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part → come → players
He makes this team go, and in two games, he has led the team in scoring.
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he → make → scoring
It isn't much scoring at just 12 points per game, but either way, he still leads the team.
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he → lead → team
Coen Carr is an athletic forward who thrives on defense and rebounding.
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who → thrive → defense
Their tenacity will set the tone for Michigan State all season.
asserted
tenacity → set → State
The Spartans are 2-0 for the season, but they haven't played anyone of substance.
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they → play → substance
They beat Quinnipiac by 37 points in the season opener, and they beat Toledo by 30 points in the next game.
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they → beat → game
Now they face a true test.
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they → face → test
The question will be how well some of the newer guys play.
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some → play → guys
Jasiah Jervis led the team in scoring in their last game, and Ethan Taylor is a 7-footer who will cause headaches for everyone.
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who → lead → everyone
Overall, the team has some depth, consistency, height, and high-motor guys.
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team → have → depth
They should have a chance against anyone in the nation.
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They → have → nation
Duke is the second-ranked team in the nation, and they are pretty much the same story as every year.
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they → rank → year
In the past two seasons, they had Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Cameron Boozer come in and leave their program.
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Flagg → have → program
Both seasons ended without a National Championship, but both seasons were successful.
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seasons → end → Championship
The Blue Devils don't have the top-ranked player in the nation this season, but they do have Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and Cameron Williams, who are 6'11" or taller.
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who → have → "
There are three guys more than seven feet tall, and two others who are 6'10" or taller.
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who → be → "
Not many teams can compete with that interior presence.
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teams → compete → presence
And, even if they can, Duke has an advantage in being able to continuously rotate in tall players to keep a fresh one out there while the other team has to play with a fatigued player.
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team → have → player
Caleb Foster will still orchestrate the offense.
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Foster → orchestrate → offense
I do like the combination of new talent and returning players for Duke.
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I → like → Duke
This game will take place at the United Center tonight in Chicago.
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game → take → Chicago
This is a significantly shorter trip for the Spartans than it is for the Blue Devils, so it may feel like more of a home game for Michigan State.
uncertain
it → feel → State
The height will be a bit of a problem for Michigan State, especially foul trouble comes into play.
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trouble → come → play
The United Center is known for being a tough place to shoot, and I still feel like the total is too high, so I'll take a half unit on the under and a half unit on the Spartans +7.5.
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I → know → +7.5
The Aporia
