For a change, the opponent has serious injury issues too: Michigan State is missing senior big men Gavin Schilling (6-9, 240) and Ben Carter (6-9, 225) which puts them on the smallish side.

Despite that, the Spartans still run nine guys for double-digit minutes and freshman star Miles Bridges is good enough to make up for a lot of things.

Bridges is off to a brilliant start. How brilliant? Brilliant enough for Magic Johnson to fly in to see him. He’s really, really good.

A solid 6-7 and 230, Bridges is averaging 17.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.3 arg and about a dozen oohs per game. He could become a truly great player.

We’ve heard he needs to polish his outside shot but he’s hitting 40%. Free throws are a bit dodgy though at 54.5%.

MSU has the best name in the game in the backcourt: Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nair.

Junior.

Younger readers may not remember or know who Lou Rawls was but he was a smooth soul singer from the ‘70s who also could handle gospel, jazz and blues. Even Frank Sinatra idolized him. He had a long and brilliant career.ds

And Tum Tum? From 3 Ninjas - a movie that was two years old when he was born.

He’s small - just 5-10 - but he’s quick and knows the system. He could give Duke fits.

He only averages 3.9 ppg but a point guard doesn't need to score to dominate the game. He also averages 3 rpg and 5.4 apg.

Eron Harris (6-3 senior) averages 12.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg.

Nick Ward (6-8, 250) lb. freshman also averages double figures, 10.4 ppg in about 16 mpg.

To a large extent though, Michigan State’s team identity is like Duke’s and the players don't matter all that much. Year in and year out, you’re going to get the same thing: a tough, physical team that hits the boards and rebounds well, one that defends with great effort and passion.

This is one of America’s great programs and not just from year to year but historically. You can look at Wooden’s UCLA, Smith’s UNC, Krzyzewski’s Duke and Knight’s Indiana as being a bit ahead but not by much. Izzo is as good as they come.

As for Duke, injuries have been a major issue but that hasn’t defined this team.

Duke has relied on experience and toughness to get through the wave of injuries that have kept Harry Giles, Marques Bolden, Jayson Tatum and Sean Obi out so far - and which have seriously affected Grayson Allen as well. In fact, we’re not sure what his status is Tuesday. We’re sure he’ll try to go.

Duke’s gotten wonderful play from Amile Jefferson and Luke Kennard so far, and Frank Jackson has been terrific for a freshman. Well better than that. He’s just been terrific. He needs to learn some discretion, like all freshmen, but he’s been really, really good.

And Matt Jones, as ever, is underappreciated. All he does is everything.

Chase Jeter is not at the level Marshall Plumlee was last year but he’s become a critical player for Duke and you can almost see him growing. He stills struggles on offense but the rest of his game is coming along nicely. And Antonio Vrankovic and Javin DeLaurier are both coming along as well. In particular Vrankovic has really improved. He needs a lot of work on his body but his mind and his hands are already at an elite level.

We think Duke has the potential to do well in this game, but we’d feel a lot better if Allen was feeling a lot better too.