The biggest factor in determining whether Thursday night will be a triumph for the Green and White or the Burnt Orange might be a matchup between two 18-year-olds.
MSU (3-0) faces No. 19 Texas (2-0) on Thursday in the semifinal round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic. The game, which tips off at 9 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in New York, will be a showcase for Kevin Durant, Texas' high-flying freshman wing.
And, going to toe-to-toe with Durant — perhaps out of necessity — will be MSU's own freshman forward, Raymar Morgan.
"I don't think we have much choice, to be honest with you, because of size and speed," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. "I've seen (Durant) a lot in the summer. Some would argue, but I think he would be the No. 1 player in the country. And as far as versatility, he's definitely the best player in the country."
The tale of the tape between the two players is similar. Both weigh in at about 220 pounds (Durant gained 20 pounds over the summer), and both are similar in height, with Durant at 6-foot-9 and Morgan at 6-foot-7.
Izzo likened Durant to Tracy McGrady, the lanky, silky-smooth wing from the Houston Rockets.
"Durant … can go outside, he can shoot 3s, he can be the point guard, he can be the (shooting guard), he's kinda like a T-Mac type player," Izzo said. "Thin, active, athletic, very good with the ball."
Through two games, Durant is averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. He's shooting 50 percent from the floor, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range.
But Durant won't be the only concern for the Spartans. He won't even be the only freshman they have to worry about. D.J. Augustin and Damion James are two other weapons Texas head coach Rick Barnes will have at his disposal.
"Augustin is a point guard that was one of the top two point guards in the country," Izzo said. "Damion James is a kid that was going to Oklahoma, and when (former Oklahoma and current Indiana head coach Kelvin Sampson) left, instead of calling me, he called Rick, and he too is a very, very, very good freshman."
Augustin proved to be an excellent playmaker in Texas' first two games, averaging eight assists per contest. James averages 13.5 points per game, along with six boards.
"We're gonna play a team that has maybe as much athleticism as any team we've played in a long, long time," Izzo said.
