Michigan State big man Goran Suton had the half of his life, scoring 17 of Michigan State's 30 points to stake the Spartans to a three-point halftime lead. The senior center killed Louisville from the outside, making three 3-pointers, including a clutch bomb at the shot-clock buzzer late in the half.

The Spartans continue to get good shots against Louisville's zone, as the Spartans' guards have held up under tenacious pressure from Louisville's backcourt.

Rick Pitino made one curious personnel move, sitting down his best player, forward Terrence Williams, for the final 4 minutes, 52 seconds of the half. Reggie Delk played in Williams' absence. It might have been Williams' longest stint on the bench of the season in a non-foul trouble, non-blowout situation.