A little Magic for Michigan State

COLUMBUS, Ohio - There's a thread running through Michigan State's program that connects the decades and NCAA titles - three players intertwined by talent, charisma and leadership skills.

From Magic Johnson to Mateen Cleaves to Draymond Green.

Three-of-a-kind Spartans.

Johnson and Cleaves, floor generals of different sizes whose smiles were as radiant as their spellbinding games, carried their teams to championships.

Green is trying to be next.

After recording his second career triple-double in an NCAA tournament game, Green will try to push the top-seeded Spartans one step closer to a third national title on Sunday when they play No. 9 seed Saint Louis.

A few days after getting a tournament pep talk from Johnson, Green scored 24 points with 12 rebounds and 10 assists Friday night as the Spartans (28-7) powered past LIU Brooklyn, 89-67, putting away the No. 16 Blackbirds with an all-out assault in the final 10 minutes.

The Billikens (26-7) are now blocking the Spartans' path.

One of the nation's best defensive teams, Saint Louis slowed Memphis to a crawl on Friday, frustrating the Tigers in a 61-54 win.

"Everyone said we weren't going to win that game. We've already done one, so why not a second one? We're going to muck up the game like we did yesterday and play dirty basketball," senior center Brian Conklin said.

If that's the case, Green said he and teammates will be ready.

If they want to play dirty, said Green, "that's what we built our program around. So that will be fine with us."

No doubt, Magic would say the same thing.