As the madness between Michigan State and North Dakota State began Thursday, it only took a few minutes to see the difference between the two teams. 

In a game marked by fast-paced play, strong teamwork and one-sided domination, No. 3 MSU defeated No. 14 NDSU 92-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Winning is not easy in March. The Spartans must be cognizant of what’s ahead, because from here on, the difficulty and stakes only intensify.

MSU advanced to the second round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, March 21, where it will face No. 6 seed Louisville.

There was hardly a question against the Bison. From the tip, it was MSU’s game — the Spartans were faster, stronger, more physical and played with the kind of teamwork teams need this time of year. On defense, MSU collapsed the paint, forcing NDSU into uncomfortable shots — some heavily contested, others taken from unusual spots on the court.

The lack of Bison baskets correlated to MSU defensive rebounds and thus a fast-paced, transition-like offense that NDSU couldn’t keep up with. On a majority of their possessions, the Spartans ran coast-to-coast in a quick sprint. If the Bison were slow and fell behind, a lob would be thrown and the MSU basket would be converted. If the Bison weren’t slow and recovered, MSU decelerated to run its offense, where it would either penetrate the post or find an open man on the wing.

“Our fast break starts with our defense,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “That's what people don't realize. When you defend well, teams don't get into the paint as much, and when they don’t get into the paint, our cutouts are easier. I could care less if we run any plays. I'd like to just get our fast break going and make that the biggest part of our offense.”

With NDSU in the rearview mirror, MSU faces tougher competition moving forward, beginning with Louisville. The Cardinals are coming off an 83-79 first-round victory over No. 11 South Florida. Louisville (24-10, 11-7 ACC) is a deep team that relies on making shots to win. When those shots don’t fall, the Cardinals can become unpredictable, displaying an inconsistent style that makes them beatable.