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Elite Eight: Sunday Preview and Open Thread

With the Irish season sadly finished, two more games round out the Elite Eight round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Three teams ND beat this season will play today in the Elite Eight. If you've recovered from the devastating loss last night, hang out with the OFD staff during the games today.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Louisville Cardinals v. #7  Michigan State Spartans - 2:20 PM CBS

Raise your hand if you had this matchup in your bracket. Irish fans will be familiar with both squads as the Irish beat Sparty in OT in South Bend during the ACC-Big Ten challenge, and knocked off Louisville at the Yum! Center a few weeks ago. The Spartans had a disappointing regular season, but have been on a tear in March. This one should be a war inside with Montrezl Harrell and Brandon Dawson mixing things up in the paint. Travis Trice and Terry Rozier will be another good matchup on the perimeter. It should be a close one, but I like Sparty to make another Final Four in a low scoring affair.

Michigan State 61, Louisville 56

#1 Duke Blue Devils vs. #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs - 5:05 ET CBS

Gonzaga will present an interesting matchup for the Dukies as they have size to limit Okafor's impact in the paint. 6-10 forward Kyle Wiltjer will probably draw Justice Winslow as a defender. Wiltjer has a few inches on Winslow, but the ultra-athletic Duke forward will make him work for his points. Prezemek Karnowski is a legit 7 footer and will do his best to slow down Okafor. The good matchups aren't limited to the paint either. Kevin Pangos and Tyus Jones are both outstanding point guards averaging double figures in points while leading their teams in assists. With such good offenses going at each other, expect a lot more points than the first game. Since we live in a cruel, unfeeling world, the Zags will come up short giving CBS the potential Duke-UK matchup they've been hoping for.

Duke 83, Gonzaga 76