The probable Duke basketball starting five against Michigan State
By Matt Giles
A probable Duke basketball starter versus Michigan State: Jalen Johnson
This one is a no-brainer, despite the seven turnovers from the hands of Jalen Johnson against Coppin State.
As Duke’s only freshman starter on Saturday, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound Swiss Army Knife, who could conceivably hold his own at any position, surely sealed his spot in the lineup moving forward. Johnson wowed with 19 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and shooting perfection: 8-for-8 from the field, including 1-for-1 from deep, and 2-for-2 from the foul line.
Fellow Wisconsin native Joey Hauser — a 6-foot-9, 220-pound starter who is now two games into his career at Michigan State and is leading the 2-0 Spartans in points and rebounds after transferring from Marquette — is undoubtedly expecting to match up against Johnson after exchanging banter on social media with his longtime friend about this game during the offseason.
Considering the Michigan State roster contains only one player taller than 6-foot-9, it is likely Hauser and Johnson will cross paths down low early and often on Tuesday night while holding down the four-spot for their respective teams…