From the Detroit Free Press. Don't necessarily agree with certain points, especially saying BG doesn't have a very strong bench. Coaching I wold say is a toss up. Agree we have the better guards and MSU has the better front court.
My Prediction: BG 76 MSU 64
BACKCOURT
Bowling Green has one of the top backcourts in the country with Lauren Prochaska (17.9 points per game), Tracy Pontius (11.6) and Tamika Nurse (10.7). All three have more assists than turnovers, and Nurse does an excellent job of getting Prochaska the ball in the right spot at the right time. MSU's Brittney Thomas (7.2 points) always has been a dependable playmaker and is developing into a scoring threat. Freshman Jasmine Thomas has been up and down, but she has become more consistent lately.
Edge: Bowling Green.
FRONTCOURT
The Spartans have a decided height advantage, especially in the post, where 6-foot-9 Allyssa DeHaan (10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds per game) will tower over 6-0 Tara Breske (8.4, 4.5). Bowling Green will have to concentrate on keeping Lykendra Johnson (8.8, 7.6) off the offensive boards. As she showed in the loss to Iowa, MSU's Aisha Jefferson (7.6 points) is capable of having big scoring nights. Jen Uhl (7.0) will have to provide inside scoring for the Falcons.
Edge: Michigan State.
INTANGIBLES
This is your classic 5-12 matchup, where the 12th-seeded team seems to have a chip on its shoulder and an upset on its mind. That could work for Bowling Green, which comes from the Mid-American Conference, in which teams have to live in the shadow of the Big Ten and relish every opportunity to show up a Big Ten school.
Edge: Bowling Green.
COACHES
These former MAC coaching rivals are familiar with everything the other coach does. The shining moment for Bowling Green's Curt Miller came in the 2007 tournament, when his team advanced to the Sweet 16. Suzy Merchant made the MSU program her own last March, when she guided the Spartans into the Sweet 16 after ousting No. 1 seed Duke. While Miller's expertise is offense, Merchant is considered a defensive genius.
Edge: Michigan State.
Overall
If MSU concentrates on rebounding, it will be able to move on to Monday's second-round game. MSU's size will give Bowling Green fits, and the biggest advantage MSU has is its bench. Bowling Green will have no answer when Kalisha Keane, Lauren Aitch and Cetera Washington come off the MSU bench.
Prediction: Michigan State 62, Bowling Green 56.
