Before MSU takes on MTSU, here are five keys to watch for. 

1. Coaching experience - MTSU is lead by head coach Kermit Davis who is now in his 18th year of being a head coach including his 14th season at the university. Davis had led MTSU to winning seasons in 12 of his 14 seasons with the program including four regular season conference titles. Davis won the program its first Conference USA Tournament title since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season. This will be MTSU's second trip to the NCAA Tournament under Davis after the team earned an at-large bid in 2013. 

2. Dangerous from deep - Much like MSU led the Big Ten 3-point percentage, MTSU led Conference USA in 3-point shooting, shooting the ball 38.6 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Four of MTSU's five starters shoots the ball 37 percent or better from behind the 3-point line, led by Giddy Potts who is the only player in the country who shoots the ball at a better percentage than MSU senior Bryn Forbes. Potts shoots 50.3 percent from 3-point territory while Forbes shoots 48.4 percent from three.

"They shoot the ball a little bit like us as far as the number of threes, but they have five guys that are shooting them," Izzo said. "In other words, their center is a three-point shooter, and so it will be a little different cover."

"The Giddy Potts kid is leading the nation in three-point field goal percentage shooting at over 50 percent, so we'll have our hands full with that."

3. Blue Raiders' depth - Much like MSU which has 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game, MTSU has nine players who average at least 10 minutes per game. The Blue Raiders also have great balance, as four of their starters average better than 10 points per game, including 6-foot-7 junior forward Reggie Upshaw who averages 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds and 6-foot-8 senior forward Darnell Harris who averages 11.6 points per game and over 39 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. The front-court duo promises to be a tough matchup for freshman forward Deyonta Davis or senior forward Matt Costello.

4. Potts vs. Harris - A key matchup in this opening round matchup will be the one between MSU junior guard Eron Harris and MTSU's aforementioned Potts. Harris has grown tremendously as a defender this season and is now one if not the go to guy for MSU when it needs a defensive stop. With Potts being a 6-foot-2 guard, and MTSU's most lethal weapon at 15 points per game, it makes the most sense that the 6-foot-4 Harris would get the assignment of guarding Potts. 

"Well, (Potts) seems to be able to shoot it anywhere," Izzo said. "He's got it in his hands some, but he's coming off some picks some, too. But as far as my team goes, you know, it's ironic that Eron Harris, since about the middle of January, has really bought into being a defensive player. I mean, it's amazing. He's bought in from how he works to how he thinks to the film he watches. I mean, in all aspects he's really bought in. He's talking more and can say more than even Denzel right now, and that's progress."

5.  Davis vs. Upshaw - Another key matchup of the game. Davis has come a long way from his defensive ability on smaller, quicker forwards, and should be ready for the challenge of guarding an athletic small-forward who shoots the ball 37 percent from behind the 3-point line. Without redshirt freshman Kenny Goins ready to play, Davis is the most likely to draw the challenge of chasing the athletic forward. Davis isn't the same perimeter defender he was when he was torched for 25 points and seven rebounds by Wisconsin junior Nigel Hayes two months ago. This is the Davis now who was a primary defender in holding Hayes to only five points on 1-of-13 in MSU's last matchup with Wisconsin.