MINNEAPOLIS - Bruce Pearl and Auburn were the first team on the court at U.S. Bank Stadium on Thursday, and the Tigers proved to themselves that 3-pointers count the same even in a football stadium.
The tempo is another story.
Auburn leads the nation with 22 points off turnovers per game — causing turnovers on nearly 25 percent of opponent possessions — but Virginia is second nationally in offensive efficiency and rarely reaches double-digit turnovers. The Cavaliers are likely to focus on expiring the shot clock for the perfect shot, and then aim to limit Auburn's looks with their pack-line defense and perimeter length, headlined by Defensive Player of the Year DeAndre Hunter.
"I just don't think we can make Virginia play faster than they play. I don't think we're going to be able to change the tempo of this game. We're most likely, if we're going to win, (to) beat Virginia at their own pace," Pearl said.
What Pearl won't change at any pace is utilizing his nine-man rotation. With Chuma Okeke sidelined following surgery to repair a torn left ACL, the Tigers are still deeper than any of the other three teams left in the tournament.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett can't stop watching video replays of the shot from Mamadi Diakite to send the regional final against Purdue into overtime. Diakite's catch-and-shoot jumper was possible only after a scramble to recover a missed free throw put the ball on the other side of half court, all within the final 5.9 seconds.
"Given the circumstances and what was on the line, it was unreal for the presence of mind of Mamadi and Kihei, Mamadi to tap it, Kihei to chase it down to make that pass. The situation was there was 5.9 seconds when Ty went to the free-throw line, and obviously I didn't instruct him to miss it, but I said, 'All right, if he misses it, try to tap it, just tap it out of there. I put someone in at the scorer's table so if Ty makes that second free-throw, we're going to try to trap, get a steal, make a play, or follow right away, and then they'll be at the line. You can have 4 1/2, 5 seconds to still run a play.' I was trying to stay in the moment.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo won't rule out running an extra defender at Texas Tech swingman Jarrett Culver, who stood out in the Spartans' preparation for the Red Raiders.
Izzo is expected to see a familiar face on Friday, when Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins — a Michigan State product — swings by and talks to the team.
Izzo hit triple digits and tossed his scorecard when he most recently saw Cousins. It was a by-invitation round at Augusta National arranged by athletic director Mark Hollis. Kirk Herbstreit was also in the foursome.