Michigan State knocks off Virginia again, headed for Sweet 16

CHARLOTTE — Travis Trice said he got a text message Sunday morning from NBA standout Draymond Green with a simple message: Don't let this be your last game.

Trice wrote back to his former Michigan State teammate, "I won't."

Instead, the senior played a large role in making it Virginia's last game, dominating early and late in a 60-54 win that sent the second-seeded Cavaliers home and Coach Tom Izzo's Spartans into the Sweet 16.

Trice scored 13 of his team's first 15 points to stake Michigan State to an early lead and then, when Virginia closed to within five points late in the second half, it was Trice who stepped back and drilled a three-pointer with 2:51 remaining that effectively sealed the outcome.

"It's one of those, 'Oh no… nice shot!' type of things," Izzo said. "But he's made a lot of those through his whole career, he's made a lot of those through high school. I've just got to run with him because the kid's an incredible kid."

BRACKET HUB: Michigan State 60, Virginia 54

Michigan State is also in the midst of another stirring run. A team that lost its top three players from last season — Adreian Payne and Gary Harris were first-round NBA picks and Keith Appling was a three-year starter — the Spartans have struggled at points this season, losing 11 games and finishing tied for third in the Big 10.

But now MSU is riding its new big three — Trice, Branden Dawson and Denzel Valentine — and with Valentine in foul trouble, the other two came up big against the ACC regular-season champs.

The Spartans (25-11) knocked out Virginia (30-4) for the second consecutive season and their seventh appearance in the Sweet 16 over the past eight seasons is best in the nation over that stretch.

"Last year, with Harris and Payne, they had probably a couple more big play guys," Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. "But they understand who they are, they're very clear. It's Dawson's team, it's Trice's team — you can see that — and Valentine. They're not quite as explosive offensively but very sound, very tough, and know where they've got to go to get stuff."

Trice finished with 23 points, while Dawson added 15 to go with nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Dawson also sent State fans into a frenzy on a breakaway early in the second half when he barreled down the lane and took a pass from Trice to lay in a bucket.

"I think his eyes light up when he sees Virginia because he was terrific last year and he's was good again," Bennett said. "He was a man, he made some tough shots, blocked shots, got on the glass."

While the star players are different, one thing is constant at Michigan State: Izzo's ability to mold teams that play their best in the postseason.

While much of the pregame focus was on Virginia's suffocating defense, Izzo and his coaching staff decided to change Michigan State's defensive philosophy just for the Virginia game, asking the Spartan big men to provide help that usually comes from its guards.

Izzo wouldn't say the change was the difference — Virginia had a horrendous shooting game, he acknowledged — but he did credit his team for executing a plan they had two days to absorb.

"We're just not quite as talented as we've normally been, so we're always cheating and trying to find a way to get an edge," he said. "Give my staff a lot of credit, they sat down and did it. But to have a team do that in one or two nights … At this time of year your focus has to be incredible and that was incredible focus if you ask me."

Virginia came out with the same intensity, but not the same success. The Cavaliers shot 30% for the game and went almost 10 minutes in the second half without a field goal. No starter made a three-pointer until Malcolm Brogdon converted with 27 seconds left in the game.

"I can't tell you how good I think Virginia is," Izzo said. "I do not think they played well today for Virginia. I guess we get a little credit for that, but it's just one of those days some guys miss some shots. It happens, it's happened to us."

And so the tradition builds at Michigan State, where players expect to make NCAA Tournament runs and old stars stay in touch. Green reached out to motivate Trice. Magic Johnson spoke to the team on Saturday and watched from the stands Sunday.

For 16 years, every Spartan that stayed four years played in at least one Final Four, a streak that ended last season. But in a bracket where top-seeded Villanova and second-seeded Virginia are already out, the Spartans are dangerous.

Trice said Saturday this year's seniors want to start a new streak. Dawson said they know Izzo can get them there.

"When you have trust in coach and the things that he tell us to do," he said, "then that's when things fall into place."