Duke basketball gets iconic and legendary matchup in Round of 32

It will be an iconic matchup for the Duke basketball program in the Round of 32. 

Did you really think the Duke basketball team would not face Michigan State in the final season in the illustrious career of Mike Krzyzewski?

Of course not.

It will be Tom Izzo vs. Mike Krzyzewski for one final time on Sunday night in Greenville, South Carolina.

The Blue Devils took care of Cal State Fullerton, 78-61, on Friday night in the Round of 64 while Michigan State mounted a second-half comeback against Davidson and held on in the final minute despite a furious attempted comeback by the Wildcats, 74-73.

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Sunday will be the seventh matchup between the two coaches in the NCAA Tournament since 1994, and it will mark the second most matchups in the NCAA Tournament between any two programs.

Kentucky and Marquette have only met more times in the Big Dance.

The Spartans defeated Duke in the last postseason matchup between the two teams in the 2019 Tournament as Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish were denied a Final Four berth by Michigan State.

The Elite Eight game between the two teams was the last NCAA Tournament game for the Blue Devils prior to Friday night.

Duke returned the favor and dominated Michigan State in East Lansing in 2020 before the Spartans dominated the Blue Devils in an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2021.

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Duke is 13-4 in the all-time series against Michigan State while Krzyzewski holds a 12-3 record against Tom Izzo.

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CBS asked Izzo about the potential matchup after the Spartans took down Davidson:

Michigan State was not ranked in the Preseason Associated Press Top-25 Poll, but the Spartans were able to rise as high as No. 10 in the poll during the season.

Tom Izzo’s team was not in the final AP Top-25 Poll following Selection Sunday.