Duke, Tre Jones Get Another Crack At Michigan State, Cassius Winston As They Head To East Lansing For The ACC/ Big Ten Challenge

On March 31, 2019 when the buzzer sounded in Duke’s game against Michigan State in the elite eight Tre Jones who now is a sophomore was bent over on the court with his face berried in his jersey with emotion and opposing point guard Cassius Winston who is now a senior consoled his counterpart after Duke’s narrow loss to Michigan State in Washington D.C that sent Michigan State on to the final four which was played in Tre Jones home state of Minnesota. Tre Jones is from Apple Valley Minnesota that is 19.2 miles from Minneapolis where last years final four was played.

Cassius Winston put Michigan State on his shoulders and carried the Spartans into the Final Four.

The do-everything point guard took over the game when his team faced its biggest deficit and led second-seeded Michigan State to a 68-67 victory over overall No. 1 seed Duke on Sunday in the East Region final. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Duke boasted the biggest stars in Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, but Winston shined brightest to put Michigan State in the Final Four for the first time since 2015. Winston had 20 points and 10 assists, made nine of his 23 shots and never shied away from shooting.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Winston was the facilitator but the Spartans received a huge boost from their oldest player. Reggie Goins, a fifth-year senior who missed his first four 3-point attempts, drained the go-ahead shot with 34.3 seconds left to put Michigan State up 68-66.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Duke had the chance to tie but Barrett missed the first of two free throws with 5.2 seconds left. Duke was helpless with only four fouls, and Winston was able to get the ball away from the Duke defenders and dribble out the clock.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Michigan State is in the Final Four for the eighth time under coach Tom Izzo, who beat Duke's Mike Krzyzewski for just the second time in 13 meetings and second time in seven NCAA Tournament games. Izzo is in the Final Four for the eighth time in his career and tied Krzyzewski what would have been a record 13th appearance.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Izzo had to navigate foul trouble to big man Xavier Tillman, who was essential in guarding Williamson and factoring in on the offensive end. Tillman played 29 minutes and scored 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Duke fell one step short of the Final Four after finally coming out on the losing end of a nail-biter. The Blue Devils won their previous two NCAA Tournament games by a combined three points, and escaped in the final seconds only when their opponents missed at the buzzer.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

Williamson finished with a game-high 24 points and 14 rebounds. Barrett had 21 points.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/3/31/211797994.aspx

On Tuesday night Tre Jones and Duke who is ranked tenth in this weeks AP Top 25 poll will get another crack at Cassius Winston and Michigan State who this week is ranked eleventh in this weeks AP Top 25 poll when they visit East Lansing for the ACC/ Big Ten Challenge and they will be looking for a different outcome while Michigan State will be looking for the same outcome while their point guard Cassius Winston will be playing with a heavy heart like he has done all season.

Winston’s brother Zachary was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Albion, sources confirmed to the Free Press on Sunday morning. “according to https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/11/10/michigan-state-cassius-winston-brother-dies-hit-train/2554882001/

WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo reported the Wolverine Train 355 struck a pedestrian on the tracks near Erie Street in Albion. The Albion Department of Public Safety identified the victim as an Albion College student and said he family had been contacted, the station reported.”according to https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/11/10/michigan-state-cassius-winston-brother-dies-hit-train/2554882001/

Amtrak media relations spokeswoman Kimberly D. Woods told the Free Press via email the Amtrak 355 Wolverine Train bound for Chicago “came into contact with a person on the track” at 8:41 p.m. and was temporarily suspended. There were 65 passengers on board, and there were no reported injuries on the train. “according to https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/11/10/michigan-state-cassius-winston-brother-dies-hit-train/2554882001/

Zachary Winston, a 19-year old University of Detroit Jesuit High graduate, was a sophomore on the Division III Albion men’s basketball team along with youngest brother, Khy. The Britons played Cassius and No. 1 MSU in an exhibition game on Oct. 29, but Zachary did not play due to an injury. “according to https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/11/10/michigan-state-cassius-winston-brother-dies-hit-train/2554882001/

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 7-1 while Michigan State who is a member of the Big Ten Conference comes into the game with a record of 5-2.

As for Duke’s previous game,

They rebounded from their loss to Stephen F. Austin with a win over Winthrop.

Freshman Matthew Hurt scored a season-high 20 points, Joey Baker added a career-high 16 and No. 1 Duke beat Winthrop 83-70 on Friday night to bounce back from its stunning loss to Stephen F. Austin.

Playing three nights after the unheralded Lumberjacks became the first Cameron Indoor Stadium visitor from outside the ACC to win in nearly 20 years, the Blue Devils (7-1) spent the better part of this one looking ripe for another upset before Baker — a sophomore who appeared in just four games last season — saved them. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/29/mens-basketball-no-1-duke-tops-winthrop-83-70.aspx

He hit two dagger 3-pointers 30 seconds apart in the final 3 minutes to put Duke up by double figures to stay and Jordan Goldwire followed with a layup off a steal to give the Blue Devils their largest lead to that point, 78-64, with just under 2 minutes remaining. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/29/mens-basketball-no-1-duke-tops-winthrop-83-70.aspx

Freshman Vernon Carey added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Tre Jones finished with 15 points for Duke.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/29/mens-basketball-no-1-duke-tops-winthrop-83-70.aspx

The Eagles trailed just 67-60 in the final 5 minutes following a 3-pointer by Hale but followed that with two empty possessions before Carey's three-point play was followed by the back-to-back 3s by Baker.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/29/mens-basketball-no-1-duke-tops-winthrop-83-70.aspx

Like Duke,

Michigan State won their previous game as they beat UCLA.

) Cassius Winston scored a game-high 20 points, Xavier Tillman had 14 and No. 3 Michigan State knocked off UCLA, 75-62, in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational fifth-place game on Wednesday inside the Lahaina Civic Center. “according to https://msuspartans.com/news/2019/11/27/m-basketball-no-3-michigan-state-beats-ucla-75-62-at-maui-invitational.aspx

The Spartans (5-2) opened the tournament with a loss to Virginia Tech, but bounced back with consecutive solid performances.”according to https://msuspartans.com/news/2019/11/27/m-basketball-no-3-michigan-state-beats-ucla-75-62-at-maui-invitational.aspx

Winston had a second straight strong performance after struggling in the opener and Michigan State used an 18-2 advantage in fast break points to close its Maui trip with a flourish.”according to https://msuspartans.com/news/2019/11/27/m-basketball-no-3-michigan-state-beats-ucla-75-62-at-maui-invitational.aspx

UCLA (5-3) is young and talented but is still working on its cohesion early in the season. After beating up on host Chaminade, the Bruins struggled to get anything to fall from the perimeter, going 2-for-14 from the 3-point line. Chris Smith had 13 points and Cody Riley scored 11 for UCLA.”according to https://msuspartans.com/news/2019/11/27/m-basketball-no-3-michigan-state-beats-ucla-75-62-at-maui-invitational.aspx

Winston was sharp in the first half against UCLA, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting to help the Spartans build a 26-23 lead. Michigan State opened the second half with a quick 10-2 run to go up 36-25 and pushed it to 15 points midway through. UCLA tried to make a run, but the Spartans made 14-of-26 shots in the second half to keep the Bruins at bay.”according to https://msuspartans.com/news/2019/11/27/m-basketball-no-3-michigan-state-beats-ucla-75-62-at-maui-invitational.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:30pm from Breslin Student Events Center. The game will be televised on ESPN.