Preview: Duke vs. Michigan State Set for Clash of Unbeatens EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — A marquee early-season showdown between undefeated powers will unfold Saturday when the second-ranked Duke Blue Devils visit the fourth-ranked Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center. Both teams enter with perfect records and national championship aspirations. Duke (9-0) has navigated a tough non-conference slate, including wins over then-Kansas and a narrow 67-66 escape against Florida last Tuesday. Michigan State (8-0) boasts its own impressive résumé, featuring true road victories at Kentucky and North Carolina. The spotlight will be on two of the nation’s elite sophomores. Duke forward Cameron Boozer, a national Player of the Year candidate, is averaging 24.7 points and 7.6 rebounds. He is coming off a 29-point performance against Florida and has scored 35 points twice this season, including in an 80-71 win at Arkansas. He will be matched by Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears, the engine of the Spartans’ attack. Fears is averaging 11.6 points and a nation-leading 8.9 assists per game, orchestrating an offense that has won each game by at least 13 points since a season-opening 69-66 win over Arkansas. “This is why you come to these schools,“ Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “Breslin Center, against a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo, with two teams playing at a high level. It’s a great measuring stick.“ The game features a classic contrast. Duke’s offense runs through the versatile Boozer and a talented supporting cast including Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba, who combined for eight blocks against Florida. Michigan State prides itself on physical defense and relentless rebounding, holding opponents to 60.1 points per game. “We know what’s coming,“ Izzo said. “They’re big, athletic, and skilled. Boozer is a problem for anybody. But we’re built for this. Our schedule has prepared us.“ History adds intrigue. The teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, a game Duke won 68-61. Several key players from that contest return for both sides. With both teams unlikely to face another ranked non-conference opponent, Saturday’s winner will secure a premier victory for its NCAA Tournament portfolio. For the loser, it will be a rare early blemish in a season full of promise. Tipoff is set for 3:17 p.m. EST Saturday. The game will be televised nationally on CBS.