Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo knows exactly what he’s up against Sunday when his team faces the Duke Blue Devils for a spot in the Final Four.
The Spartans will have to contend with Zion Williamson, who Izzo described as “damn close” to being Superman.
Izzo on Zion: "He's not Superman. But he's damn close."
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 30, 2019
Izzo joked that he might need to borrow Chicago Bears defensive lineman Khalil Mack to slow Williamson down.
Izzo on Zion: "Khalil Mack is a guy i look at. If i could borrow someone from Bears, maybe we could cover him."
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 30, 2019
When you look at the things Williamson can do on the court, Izzo’s comparison isn’t all that off base.
There was a reason the Spartan coach was so frustrated with Michigan State’s draw, as a game like this feels a lot more like a Final Four tilt than a regional final. Michigan State ultimately will likely look to contain Williamson, clog up the middle, and use their toughness to neutralize him as best they can while daring Duke to beat them from the perimeter. It’s a simple road map for giving Duke problems, but much easier said than done.
