But sophomore guard Keith Appling doesn’t have a problem adjusting tempos for games.

“I’m going to have to play a very solid game, control my team,” Appling said. “When we need a basket, go to the inside to (senior forward Draymond Green) or any other one of our big guys, so we get something easy and get our team going.”

The Billikens talked a lot about being able to slow down and beat up the fast-paced Spartans two days after the Blackbirds talked about outrunning them.

Green said he and the rest of the Spartans are just going to play their game.

“We’ve played teams who like to play tough, some teams who play dirtyish, and some who classify us,” he said. “It’s not something we haven’t seen or can’t adjust to.”

And junior center Derrick Nix doesn’t have a problem slowing down the pace.

“My favorite quote is, ‘Slower is always better.’ If they want to slow it down, then you know I’m down for it, “ Nix said. “Why would I want to run up and down, up and down, up and down when I’m 270, 275 (pounds).”

While Appling tries to dictate the speed MSU plays, he’ll also likely have the task of guarding guarding versatile guard Kwamain Mitchell.

Appling said he’s ready to go for 40 minutes of play, and Izzo is happy to know he has a defender like Appling.

“Mitchell is the guy who stirs the drink and creates things. He does it in different ways,” Izzo said. “Appling is getting better each and every game. But the one thing he’s been pretty solid and steady at, he can defend just about anybody.”

St. Louis plays in a mid-major conference, the Atlantic 10, and they don’t have any big name players on their roster, but Appling knows not to over look the Billikens, especially in one-and-done time like March.

“You can’t look past anyone, just for the simple fact it’s March Madness,” he said. “Anyone can be beat on any given night. We don’t look past anyone and take it one game at a time.”