At least one will give in Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup between the Spartans and Rebels in Atlanta, where MSU’s top-ranked perimeter defense will face a team shooting 49% from deep through two NCAA Tournament games.

No. 2 seed MSU (29-6) faces No. 6 seed Ole Miss (24-11) at 7:09 p.m. Friday, returning to State Farm Arena four and a half months after a November loss to then-No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic.

"I know we’re going to play against a tough team," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said during a press conference Thursday. "I know they’re going to be physical, I know they’re going to play hard, I know they’re going to be somewhat disciplined, and I think that’s what probably — if I really looked at all the teams that are left — is a common denominator."

Aiming for their first Elite Eight appearance since 2019, the Spartans enter the South Region semifinal with the nation’s No. 5 defense according to KenPom, a formidable rebounding presence and a deep rotation that’s held opponents to just 27.8% shooting from beyond the arc — best in Division I. 

Last weekend, MSU outclassed No. 15 seed Bryant, 87-62, after trailing multiple times in the first half, riding a second-half surge built on offensive rebounding and bench scoring. The Spartans edged past No. 10 seed New Mexico two days later, 71-63, in a back-and-forth contest that wasn’t sealed until the final minutes. 

MSU has now reached its 16th Sweet 16 under Izzo, who has made more second-weekend appearances than any team besides Duke since 1998.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, will play in its second Sweet 16 in program history — its first since 2001 — fueled by marquee wins and a six-man rotation that does most of its damage.

The Rebels earned their spot in Atlanta with wins over No. 11 seed North Carolina and No. 3 seed Iowa State, shooting 19-for-39 from three. Ole Miss also defeated five other NCAA Tournament teams — Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, BYU and Arkansas — and ranks No. 21 overall on KenPom with nearly even offensive (24th) and defensive (21st) efficiency.

Coached by Chris Beard, who eliminated Izzo and MSU from the 2019 Final Four as head coach at Texas Tech, the Rebels bring balance and ball security. Six players average double digits, and Ole Miss ranks fourth nationally in turnover margin.

"They’re a tough team. You know they’re going to play hard, push the pace and guard us," redshirt freshman guard Fears Jr. said.

Junior point guard Sean Pedulla leads with 15.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, posting back-to-back 20-point performances last weekend. 6-foot-9 forward Malik Dia adds inside-out scoring, shooting 38% from three while also attacking off the dribble.

"(Pedulla) has been hitting a lot of shots as of late," freshman guard Jase Richardson said. "He’s been a big player for them, so we know defensively that we have to hone in on him and some other key guys that can really go out there and hurt us."

Ole Miss sacrifices offensive rebounding for getting back on defense, which could allow MSU to control the glass. The Rebels rank outside the top 290 in rebounding, while the Spartans are 14th nationally in total rebounding margin.

It’s a calculated tradeoff by Ole Miss, limiting fast-break opportunities and forcing opponents to score in the half court. This could challenge an MSU team that thrives in transition.

The Spartans are ranked No. 3 nationally in fast-break points, outscoring opponents 32-3 in transition last weekend. Limiting those opportunities is a key focus for the Rebels.

Ole Miss switches frequently on defense and protects the paint well, relying on its guard-heavy rotation to assist in the post. Beating them will require patience and execution.

"You better be pretty focused, disciplined, accountable, together and connected if you’re going to move on, unless you have unbelievable talent," Izzo said. 

The Spartans expect a battle Friday night — one that will test their strengths and weaknesses and decide whether a still-evolving group is ready to take the next step.