MICHIGAN STATE

* About Wisconsin: Everyone knows about Wisconsin’s relentless man-to-man defense. In the tournament, the Badgers held Fresno State to 56 points, Arizona to 59, Louisiana State to 48 and Purdue to 60. Yet, the key to Wisconsin’s Final Four drive has been timely offense from a notoriously poor-shooting unit. Senior guard Jon Bryant, who averaged only seven points a game during the regular season, has more than doubled his output in the tournament to 16.8, while making 18 of 36 three-point shots. He leads the team with 74 three-point baskets and made a career-best seven against Fresno State.

MICHIGAN STATE LOG

78 Toledo 33

82 at Providence-x 58

59 South Carolina-x 56

74 Texas-x 81

86 at North Carolina 76

75 Howard-y 45

74 E. Michigan-y 57

66 Kansas 54

68 at Arizona 79

86 Oakland, Mich. 51

58 at Kentucky 60

96 MVSU 63

49 at Wright St. 53

76 Penn St. 63

75 at Iowa 53

77 Indiana, OT 71

67 at Ohio St. 78

69 Northwestern 45

59 at Northwestern 29

91 Illinois 66

82 at Michigan 62

85 Connecticut 66

67 at Purdue 70

61 at Wisconsin 44

83 Ohio St. 72

59 Wisconsin 54

79 at Penn St. 63

79 at Indiana, OT 81

79 Minnesota 43

114 Michigan 63

75 Iowa-z 65

55 Wisconsin-z 46

76 Illinois-z 61

NCAA TOURNAMENT

65 Valparaiso 38

73 Utah 61

75 Syracuse 58

75 Iowa St. 64

x-Puerto Rico Shootout; y-Coca-Cola Spartan Classic; z-Big Ten Conference

WISCONSIN

* About Michigan State: The Spartans are the only top-seeded team that advanced to the Final Four. This veteran-led unit is tough and resilient, and seems to play best when put to the test. The Spartans trailed Utah, Syracuse and Iowa State in the second half before rallying to victories in the Midwest Regional. Michigan State out-rebounded opponents by an average of 12.9 a game this season and led the nation in that category.

WISCONSIN LOG

66 at Missouri-x 55

49 at Syracuse-x 68

60 Ball St. 50

69 at Wis.-Milwaukee 49

48 at Wake Forest 67

66 Rhode Island 43

61 Texas 45

55 Wis.-Green Bay 34

63 at South Florida 66

51 at N. Illinois 55

86 Marquette 74

62 Temple 44

67 at Indiana 71

63 Illinois 59

51 Ohio St. 53

52 at Purdue 63

61 at Penn St. 76

85 Minnesota 53

55 Purdue 45

55 Iowa 61

48 at Ohio St. 51

66 at Minnesota 64

44 Michigan St. 61

75 Michigan 59

54 at Michigan St. 59

54 at Iowa 45

62 at Northwestern 46

56 Indiana 53

51 Northwestern-y 41

78 at Purdue-y 66

46 at Michigan St.-y 55

NCAA TOURNAMENT

66 Fresno St. 56

66 at Arizona 59

61 at LSU 48

64 at Purdue 60

x-NABC Classic; y-Big Ten Conference

* Keys to the game: The 6-foot-3 Mike Kelley’s ability to defend 6-6 Morris Peterson. Kelley, a junior, usually plays at guard for Wisconsin and may be the best defender in the nation. But Friday it was revealed that Roy Boone will replace Maurice Linton in Wisconsin’s starting lineup and defend against Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves. This will allow Kelley to concentrate on Peterson, who averages a team-leading 16 points a game. Wisconsin must not let Michigan State dominate the boards. The Spartans have defeated the Badgers three times this season, but the last two games were close. In a five-point loss at East Lansing on Feb. 19, Wisconsin out-rebounded Michigan State, 29-26.

*

Michigan State (30-7) vs. Wisconsin (22-13)

2:30 p.m., today, Ch. 2, at Indianapolis