WASHINGTON — Nobody could catch Cassius Winston.
Not RJ Barrett. Not Tre Jones. Not Zion Williamson. Until the clock hit triple zeroes, he kept running away, running all the way to Minneapolis.
Off Winston went, sprinting away from Duke, ending the memorable seasons of the likely one-and-done freshmen stars and soon-to-be professionals, sending the Spartans back to the Final Four for the first time in four years.
“I’m about to dribble it out. This is really happening,” the junior said he thought to himself. “It was a crazy moment.”
This time, top-seeded Duke didn’t get a fortunate carom, as it had in its previous two dramatic victories. With a chance to tie, Barrett’s first of two free throws hit off the back rim with 5.2 seconds left, and his second went in, though he was trying to miss. The second-seeded Spartans were still dancing, sending everyone’s favorite to win it all home early, prevailing in a classic 68-67 East Region final at Capital One Arena, giving coach Tom Izzo his second win in 14 tries against counterpart Mike Krzyzewski.
“I can’t tell you how many times in those huddles they didn’t quit. They didn’t give in,” Izzo said after reaching his eighth Final Four. “We might not be physically as tough as some teams I’ve had, but I think mentally we might be tougher than any team I’ve had.”
Needing to foul twice to send the Spartans to the line, Duke committed one quickly. But with 4.7 seconds left, Winston, the heady point guard and Big Ten Player of the Year, made eye contract with teammate Xavier Tillman, the inbounds passer. Tillman gave him a wink and a nod, suggesting with his eyes he run up court. Winston eluded the Blue Devils, running out the clock on Duke’s year, one point shy of the Final Four.
“It’s over,” Barrett said he thought helplessly to himself as he futilely chased Winston.
Instead of Duke (32-6), Williamson and Barrett owning the sport’s biggest stage, it will be Michigan State (32-6) facing No. 3 Texas Tech, the West Region champion, in a national semifinal Saturday in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium. It will be the rugged and experienced Spartans led by Winston, who was instrumental in the victory, notching 20 points, 10 assists and four steals and committing just one turnover. It wasn’t easy, the lead changing hands 14 times in the second half.
“He’s the best guard we’ve played against,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s able to run what Tom [Izzo] is thinking in real time and feel the game, and that really is one of the biggest gifts a player can give a coach.”
Duke held a three-point lead in this edge-of-your-seat showdown with 1:44 remaining. But in this showdown most predicted when the bracket was released two weeks ago, Michigan State punched last. Winston set up Tillman on an alley-oop layup to make it a one-point game. After Barrett missed a contested drive, one-time walk-on Kenny Goins (10 points, nine rebounds) sank a 3-pointer over the on-rushing Williamson’s outstretched hands to give the Spartans the lead for good with 34.3 seconds left. Barrett didn’t draw iron on the other end, but in a mad scramble for the loose ball, it went off Matt McQuaid, giving Duke one last chance with 8.4 seconds left. Barrett drew a foul, but missed the first of two free throws.
Williamson and Barrett tried to carry Duke to the finish line, combining for 45 points. Williamson added 14 rebounds. But they couldn’t come through in the final seconds, couldn’t overcome the Blue Devils’ 17 turnovers. Barrett badly missed his final two shots, Williamson only attempted one shot, which he made, in the final 6:42.
“All credit to them. They played a hell of a game,” Barrett said. “But for it to be over for us is heartbreaking.”
It, of course, could’ve gone the other way. Michigan State trailed by nine late in the first half, only to respond with a 13-0 spurt to close the first 20 minutes. It shot 6-of-19 from 3-point range, got to the free-throw line just six times, and was out-rebounded by 11. But the Spartans still found a way to cut down the nets, just as they have found a way to deal with an avalanche of injuries this year.“One of my former assistants was at Houston when they won two [NBA titles], and [coach Rudy Tomjanovich] talked about having the heart of a lion,” Izzo said. “And the heart of a lion is what [my players] have.”
They hope to have two games left, to bring a third national championship back to East Lansing. Izzo was reminded of that goal shortly after the victory.
“How about that?” he told Winston’s mother, Wendi.
“That’s not good enough,” she replied. “We’ve got two more.”
Izzo smiled.
“A woman of my heart,” he said. “Thank you, I’m going to make sure I let your son and all the other players know exactly what you said.”