The dark cloud hanging over Dantonio and Izzo

I have tried to write this post a few times, but events at Michigan State seem to change on a daily basis, rendering my thoughts and impressions immediately dated.

 

Let me get right down to it: I am depressed. I am sad. I am infuriated. Infuriated with MSU's leadership void and incompetence, but also infuriated with unfair and vindictive shots MSU is taking from outsiders (and I don't necessarily mean ESPN, but mainly people on social media).

 

I don't know what to make of the dark cloud over the basketball and football program. How much of this is really malfeasance by Izzo and/or Dantonio, and how much is it an opportunistic ESPN with an axe to grind? How much of my reaction is knee-jerk defensiveness that my alma mater is under the microscope? Is it just that I can't handle the ugly reality and am taking out my anger on a media outlet that is simply trying to report a story?

 

I have never met Mark Dantonio, so I have no idea who he is as a human being. Perhaps he is capable of covering up sexual misconduct/abuse. I really have no idea. Certainly, Dantonio's program has been checkered by bad behavior by his players, so I regret to admit this is not a far-fetched notion.

 

On the other hand, I have met Tom Izzo twice, both times in everyday situations in which he could have easily "big-timed" me or ignored me. Instead, he was gracious and friendly. He struck me as, deep down, a hard-working blue collar guy from Iron Mountain. I felt like I got the measure of the man and insight into his character. It's hard for me to imagine Izzo ever knowingly covering up bad behavior by one of his players.

 

But what do I know? Clearly the culture at Michigan State is not what I thought it was just one or two years ago. It's an institution that enabled a predator like Larry Nassar, so who knows what else it has allowed?

 

All I really know is that if It's true that Izzo is guilty of a cover up, it will be one of the saddest days of my life. I will no longer feel like I can trust any public figure.

An abrupt end to the basketball season

What is there to say?

Michigan State ran into a spirited team in Middle Tennessee State that out-worked, out-hustled, and out-shot them. The Spartans, unfortunately, played one of their worst games of the season when it mattered the most.

It's an incredibly sad way for Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, Matt Costello, Colby Wollenman, and [maybe] Deyonta Davis to end their collegiate careers.

It also concludes what has been, outside of the Big Ten Tournament championship  (remember that?) and a first-round NCAA tourney win for the women's team, a bad week for MSU sports; and also, a bad week for two people associated with Spartan basketball, Branden Dawson and Mateen Cleaves. More on them later.

Back to today's game. I have to admit that, due to an unforeseen circumstance, I wasn't able to see most of it. Instead, I followed on my phone, listened to Will Tieman and Matt Steigenga's largely incredulous and mournful radio broadcast, and then finally the last 6 minutes or so of the CBS TV broadcast. Poor Steve Smith, former MSU standout, probably wishes to never have to provide color commentary for another MSU hoops game. Under the circumstances, he was unfailingly professional.

It was a stunning way for the season to reach conclude, and I still feel a bit numb. Strangely enough (or maybe not strangely), I'm neither angry nor even particularly depressed. More like shocked and numb. The Spartans seemed so out-of-sync today that I suppose I had a sense of foreboding throughout the game, and this gave me time to prepare myself for the inevitable.

Every single time it seemed that the Spartans might get it together and take the lead in this game, Middle Tennessee State responded with a score. In the final three minutes or so, the Spartans did what I rarely ever see them do: they panicked. Middle Tennessee, to borrow the tired old expression, smelled blood in the water and put MSU away.

Now to Branden Dawson and Mateen Cleaves. I'm disappointed with Dawson's situation (accused of domestic assault), but I am downright sick and despondent over Mateen Cleaves' sexual assault charge. Not that I know Cleaves personally, but from what I do know of him (or think I know of him), it seems completely out of character. If Tom Izzo, someone I consider to be of high moral standing, chose to name his son after Mateen, then that says a lot about Cleaves--or so it would seem.

It's now up to the court of law to decide. Maybe there is a dark side to Mateen Cleaves that few know about? I hope that's not the case, but if it is--and Cleaves committed the crimes of which he's accused, he needs to face the consequences.

Spartans hammer Penn State

After a few post-game celebratory beers at Harrison Roadhouse, I've returned home after watching Michigan State demolish Penn State 88-57 at Breslin Center.

There was quite a bit of commentary regarding Tom Izzo's criticism of his big men even after the Spartans hammered Ohio State in Columbus. Izzo knows what this team is capable of accomplishing and will accept nothing less than maximum effort. The path is clear for Michigan State to not just contend for a national title, but to win the whole shebang. My feeling is that Izzo senses the landscape of college hoops this season and that this is a great opportunity for the Spartans to finally win that elusive second Izzo national championship.

Today's game was never close. From the moment Deyonta Davis won the opening tip, Penn State never offered up a challenge. From the Nittany Lions side, the most excitement came when Pat Chambers lost his mind after a double technical and I thought police might need to intervene to restrain him. Had his assistant coaches not held him back, Chambers might have done great bodily harm to an official. And I'm only slightly tongue-in-cheek.

It was a sun-drenched and warm-ish day in East Lansing. The crowd at Breslin was lively and seemed to reflect the pleasant weather outside. That said, Penn State doesn't make Spartans fans' blood boil or pulse quicken like Wisconsin or Michigan, so the energy level was nowhere near the fever pitch I've seen against those teams. With the MSU team's level of motivation, it didn't need to be.

Amazingly, the Spartans still have a slim chance of tying for the Big Ten title. Early in the season, I thought Iowa or even Maryland would roll to the conference crown, but they both are struggling. Though Indiana hasn't dazzled me, they are in a position to win it.

Ultimately, the Big Ten championship doesn't matter that much (though it would be gratifying to earn a share), the way MSU is playing right now, a national championship is in their sights.

Michigan State/Alabama pre-game post, volume II (and some basketball)

Before I get to tomorrow's football game, let's start with hoops:

I don't know quite how or why, but I stuck with last night's Spartan basketball loss to Iowa all the way until the bitter end. It was easily the worst game our guys have played all season. The struggles last night are due to a variety of reasons. First and foremost, they miss Denzel Valentine...badly. It's not just that Valentine is the team leader in scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals--and arguably the best player in college basketball this season--it's that he is the undisputed leader of the team and makes everyone around him better. Valentine is, as Reggie Jackson once referred to himself, "the straw that stirs the drink." The Spartans were rudderless (or "strawless"?) without him last night.

The amount of lethargy that the Spartans exhibited last night makes me wonder if the death of Tom Izzo's father has effected them. Even Tom Izzo didn't seem to have the same amount of fire that he usually displays. It's natural and expected that Tom would be in mourning right now, and maybe a bit distracted. This could rub off on the players. I don't know this to be fact, but just speculation. In any case, the team should come out with considerably more focus against Minnesota and I'd be surprised if they lost that game.

It looks like Valentine may be able to return for the Big Ten home opener against Illinois, If the Spartans can beat Minnesota and make win two of the three games they play sans Valentine, that is about a good as it could get,

Now on to football:

I'm tired of the hype, I'm tired of listening to all the opinions and punditry, all of the fan trash talk, just bring on the game.

By this point, I'm sure everyone has read or heard the "keys to the game" ad infinitum. Essentially, for Michigan State, it boils down to whether the Spartans can contain--though not necessarily stop--Derrick Henry. (It's not realistic to expect the Spartans to stop the Heisman Trophy winner dead in this tracks for 60 minutes). It's true that a pro-style offense like Alabama's is the best case scenario for MSU's defense. They tend to be much more successful against those type of offenses than the spread, read-option, "throw it all over the field" attacks.

On the offensive side of the ball, will the Spartans be able to run effectively enough to allow Connor Cook and the passing game to be successful? If the Spartans can rush for over 100 yards in the game and at least keep Alabama honest, then that should make Cook's job at least a little easier.

So what would a national championship in football mean to Michigan State? It would be such an incredible achievement that I'm trying hard not to fixate on it. I don't want to be overly disappointed if it doesn't happen.

A national championship for Alabama or Oklahoma would be...well, just another national championship. Business as usual. For Michigan State, it would be a game changer, and the most significant...and improbable...athletic achievement in the school's history. MSU hasn't won a national championship since 1966 (depending on which of the myriad football polls one takes into account),

I'd best not obsess over the possibility of a national championship. There's plenty of time to hash over the ramifications for MSU if and when it happens.

Playing with house money

It was the most satisfying basketball victory of the season...at least so far.

MSU's 62-58 comeback win over Maryland reminded this fan of the great Tom Izzo-coached teams of the past. The game that immediately came to mind was the 1999 Elite Eight win over heavily favored Kentucky. The Spartans overcame a 17-4 deficit, fought and clawed back, and beat the Wildcats 73-66.  Against the Terrapins yesterday, the Spartans overcame deficits of 12-1 and 23-7 to come back, repeatedly punch Maryland in the mouth, and render the Terps wounded and defeated. It was a script followed by many great Izzo teams in the past.

There was a resilience and resolve in yesterday's performance that I've rarely seen this season. It's a testament to the greatness of Tom Izzo and his uncanny ability to mold and shape a basketball team through the course of a season.

As a fan who has endured more nailbiting close games than I can even count this season, I decided to simply turn off my emotions as much as possible yesterday and simply let the game unfold. It made for a less harrowing experience.

Now the Spartans are playing with house money. I don't expect MSU to beat Wisconsin in today's tournament championship, but neither would I be shocked if it happened. As we've come to expect, Izzo has the team playing its best basketball when it matters most and almost anything seems possible.

Beating Wisconsin will be a tall order, as they are clearly the class of the Big Ten. Frank Kaminsky should be national player of the year. The guy can beat you in so many ways: great post player with nimble moves who can also shoot from the perimeter. The Badgers also have a great supporting cast in Koenig, Dekker, Hayes, and Gasser.

Still, I love how MSU is coming around in March. They may not have enough to knock off Wisconsin, but the game should certainly be interesting.

Spartan basketball, the career and legacy of Tom Izzo, and the Michigan game

It's been over a week since I posted in this blog, and in that time MSU basketball lost to an average Nebraska and blew out a horrible Rutgers. And now, quite unexpectedly, I have tickets for tomorrow's game against Michigan.

At this point, all that can really be said about the basketball team is this: the only part of them that is predictable about them is their unpredictability--and that they can't shoot free throws to save their lives.  However, there is a glimmer of hope that perhaps they're turning a corner. After a terrible first half against Nebraska, the team played much better in the second half and almost came away with a most improbable win. The schedule smiled upon them with the next game on the road against Rutgers, and the Spartans dominated throughout to take a 20-point win.

So, looking at tomorrow's game, the Spartans should win. It's at home, the Wolverines are depleted, and the Spartans should ride the momentum of a blowout win at Rutgers.

Branden Dawson played great against Rutgers and seems to be performing at a high level that he's always been capable of attaining. I've often thought that Dawson is one of the most frustrating players Izzo has ever had. He is an incredibly gifted athlete who has the capability of dominating a game--when he's into it. Too often, he seems either disinterested or just inconsistent. If "good" Dawson shows up tomorrow--which I fully expect in a game against MSU's arch rival--and the Spartans can shoot reasonably well from the perimeter and not awful from the free throw line, MSU should win this game by at least 8 or 9 points.

I don't want to dismiss Michigan, though. Despite the loss of Levert and Walton, Michigan continues to play just well enough to get it done. Any team that is able to take Wisconsin to overtime, while missing two of its most important players, must be taken very seriously.

***

Tom Izzo turned 60 years old yesterday. How did he (and I) get this old? In the same year that Izzo hits the big six-oh, we celebrate his 20th season as MSU head basketball coach. I hate to use the whole trite "where did the time go" cliché, but...WHERE THE HECK DID THE TIME GO?

When Izzo was named head coach, I'm sure I was not unlike most everyone else in wondering who he was. I don't think I was following the basketball team close enough at the time to notice him on the bench as one of Jud Heathcote's assistants. In fact, when I first heard his name, I thought that perhaps he was related to former MSU basketball player Mario Izzo. (One look at the 7-foot Mario Izzo and the 5' 9"-ish Tom Izzo would immediately dispel any notion that the two were related).

The first two years at MSU were tough for Tom Izzo. Jud hadn't left him with much talent and those first two teams struggled. Many, including yours truly, wondered if this Izzo guy was the right man for the job. At the time, I didn't fully realize that slowly but surely Tom Izzo was building a soon-to-be-dominant program at MSU. Key recruits like Antonio Smith and Mateen Cleaves were the foundation.

Izzo's third year was the breakthrough year, but even that season wasn't without its tribulations. The Spartans had a less than stellar non-conference slate including a loss to the University of Detroit that I remember well because my instant reaction was, "here we go again." Undoubtedly the first big win of Izzo's coaching career came in the Big Ten opener against the overwhelmingly favored Purdue, when the Spartans stunned the Boilermakers 74-57 at Mackey Arena. Unfortunately, I didn't actually see the game, but clearly remember seeing the headline in the Lansing State Journal the next day and being completely dumbstruck that the Spartans had won by such an overwhelming score. (As a side note, it's hard to imagine that there was once a time when one couldn't instantly learn who had won a game. I waited over 12 hours to discover MSU had beaten Purdue).

From that point forward, we have experienced the glory years of Spartan basketball. But I suppose even with all the incredible success Izzo has had--the 2000 national championship, the Big Ten championships, the Final Fours--that 1997-1998 team will always maintain a special place in my memory. I remember visiting the now-defunct College Store shortly after the season ended and buying a "1998 Big Ten champions" t-shirt and the 1997-1998 basketball media guide, all the while thinking how great it was that MSU had won the Big Ten title and to appreciate it NOW because it wasn't likely to happen again for at least another decade...little did I know what the future would have in store. Tom Izzo has taken the Michigan State basketball programs to heights I never thought were possible.

***

On Friday's Drive with Jack Ebling, Jack asked various guests to name their favorite MSU/UM basketball game. His UoM grad/fan/co-host Tom Crawford went with Michigan's 2011 win at Breslin (a game I'd like to forget ever happened). Jack's choice was the 1986 game at Jenison Fieldhouse, and I have a hard time arguing with that. The scrappy Spartans beat the eventual Big Ten champion Wolverines, 91-79. Re-reading some of Jack's piece about the game in his book Magic Moments: a Century of Spartan Basketball, I'm reminded of how much I disliked Antoine Joubert at the time and how thrilling it was that Skiles and company beat those guys that season--not just once, but TWICE. Despite Joubert guaranteeing a payback win at Crisler, the Spartans hammered the Wolverines even worse than they had at Jenison. The final score in Ann Arbor was 74-59. At the time, I was a senior at Caro High School in the thumb of Michigan and overrun by Michigan fans. I was able to hold my head high that season.

I suppose my favorite game in the series was the 2013 game at Breslin, a game I was lucky enough to attend in person. It was the first and only time that both teams entered the game both ranked in the national top ten and the Spartans blew out the Wolverines in a spirited performance.

Other memorable MSU/UM basketball games: 

1979 (MSU 80, Michigan 57; at Jenison). I was a 10 year-old kid at my grandma's house in Rosedale Park, Detroit and watched this game in her den/library. The Spartans avenged an earlier heartbreaking loss in Ann Arbor and completely blew out the Wolverines in the rematch. I haven't seen this game since the day it was played, but the memories I have involve MSU running fast break after fast break with Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Greg Kelser putting on a show. I don't know if my memories necessarily represent reality, but the warm glow from those hazy memories remains to this day.

1998 (MSU 80, Michigan 75; at Breslin). After losing his first five meetings to Michigan, Tom Izzo finally broke through into the win column.  I clearly remember watching this game at the Peanut Barrel in East Lansing and, fueled by a reasonable amount of beer, going crazy near the end of a tense back-and-forth victory against the Wolverines. I talked a lot of trash and said some nasty things about Robert "Tractor' Traylor and the rest of the Michigan team. I let out all my frustration that had been pent up during that five-game losing streak between 1996 to the first MSU/UM meeting of 1998. Those there who were unfamiliar with what a lunatic I can become during MSU sporting events were probably alarmed by my demeanor.

2000 (MSU 114, Michigan 63; at Breslin). Unfortunately, I had to work during this game and didn't actually see it until after the fact. (My at-the-time fiancée and later wife was good enough to tape the game for me. Ah, the days of VHS. What memories).  A friend of mine and fellow co-worker (who was smart and took the day off to watch the game) called me at work to relay the score, probably at or near halftime. (Once again, imagine that there was once a time when you couldn't check a score on your phone or computer). The phone conversation I had with my friend went something like this:

Friend: "You'll never guess what the score is."

Me (always a bit worried when it comes to this game): "Uh-oh, is it good or bad?"

Friend: "Oh, it's pretty good."

Me: "Okay, what's the score?"

Friend: "MSU is up 51-24."

Me: "Get the hell out of here! Seriously? You better not be messing with me!"

Friend: "No! It's really 51-24! I'm not kidding!"

Me: "Holy shit."

It was an amazing and incredible win in which everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--went right for the Spartans. Seemingly every shot they made went in the basket, and Mateen Cleaves set a Big Ten assist record that still stands. The game was a happy culmination of everything Izzo had built over the first five years of his head coaching tenure, and served as a hometown send-off for the Spartans' march to the Big Ten tournament championship and national championship.

***

While this year's game doesn't have as much juice or intrigue as games past, it's still Michigan. I'm hoping for a win. With a victory, I'll be content until September (regardless of what happens in Ann Arbor) and the Spartan basketball team will set themselves up well for a potentially strong finish to the regular season. I don't want to think of what a loss will mean.

A quick end of the year wrap-up

This is one final post before the end of the year, sort of a quick "year-end wrap-up."

 

For MSU sports fans, the year 2014 literally peaked on January 1. The next 364 days were a bit of a comedown.

 

In 2013, the final year of the BCS era, the Spartan football team finally made a BCS bowl; and in the last year in which the Rose Bowl was, for the most part, the game we grew up with, MSU participated. In what felt like a throwback to Rose Bowls of the past, the Big Ten champion Spartans took on the PAC 12 champion Stanford Cardinal. And in a good old fashioned defensive slobber knocker, the Spartans made a memorable 4th down stand and won 24-20. Spartan football ended the season ranked #3 for its highest finish in my lifetime.

 

And that day was the pinnacle of the Michigan State sports year.

 

MSU basketball had a very good season, albeit injury-plagued and somewhat frustrating. The highlight for me was the Big Ten tournament, in which a finally full-strength Spartan team demolished Wisconsin and Michigan to take the title. The team entered the NCAA tournament as many pundits' favorite to win it all. Even President Obama picked MSU to go all the way. (In retrospect, this may have been the kiss of death). The Spartans made it to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champion UConn. I can still remember watching the game on a warm April day at my brother's house. The Spartans looked to be in command at halftime before everything inexplicably unraveled in the second half. Not only did MSU not win the national championship, but the 2014 senior class became the first one under Tom Izzo to not make a Final Four. This was a remarkable streak that was bound to end at some point.

 

With the end of basketball season in April, it was finally time to unwind and reflect on what an amazing time it had been in 2013-14 for MSU football (mainly) and basketball (to a slightly lesser extent). 2013 had been such an incredible year for football that I was really in no hurry for the 2014 season to begin.

 

I must have been one of the few who never expected the 2014 football team to improve upon what had been accomplished in 2013. A 13-1 record (undefeated in Big Ten play) plus a Rose Bowl victory is special. It may be a once in a generation season. So what the 2014 team accomplished (thus far) was NOT a disappointment for me. Sure, a spot in the four-team playoff would have been fantastic, but it just wasn't meant to be.

 

The 2014 Spartan football team is 10-2 (7-1 in conference play) with the Cotton Bowl still to be played tomorrow. In '13, a spirited and focused MSU team punched Ohio State in the mouth in the Big Ten title game. When the teams had their rematch in '14, the Buckeyes had a score to settle. It was MSU's only blemish in the conference season and probably the only roadblock to MSU actually making the four team football playoff.

 

With the 2014-15 Spartan basketball team floundering, who knows what 2015 has in store. If MSU football could find a way to beat a high octane Baylor team in tomorrow's Cotton Bowl, the year could get off to a rousing start.

 

As a grizzled veteran of many, many disappointing MSU sports seasons of the past, I have very little to complain about now. Tom Izzo, despite the travails of this year's team, is a great basketball coach who is still the envy of most college basketball programs in America. Despite the arrival of "The Messiah" Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor, there is no reason that both Michigan AND Michigan State football can't be simultaneously successful. MSU football is in great hands under Mark Dantonio.

When you get down to it, this is a great time to be a Michigan State sports fan, and there's no reason not to be confident and optimistic about the future.

Maryland 68, Michigan State 66

Tonight's 68-66 MSU loss to Maryland was quite possibly the ugliest college basketball game I've ever witnessed. If nothing else, it was the most unsightly first half of basketball in my memory, If one were to see the 17-14 halftime score across the ESPN crawl, he or she would be forgiven for thinking it was a football score. The first half was so horrible, in fact, that with 6:24 left in the first half, Michigan State had only six points. Maryland wasn't much better, they had eleven.

 

Play was marginally better in the second half and the two overtimes, but the more prolific scoring was probably due more to the fact the game became a glorified free throw shooting contents. If the game comes to that, MSU is at a serious disadvantage.

 

MSU had a chance to win in regulation, and they had a chance to win in the first overtime. In fact, MSU had numerous chances to pull away in the game but just could not do it.

 

I know that criticizing Tom Izzo is practically verboten around these parts, and I do so rarely because the man's track record speaks for itself and he knows more basketball in his pinky finger that I could ever hope to know in a lifetime. Still, I question the timeout call on Bryn Forbes' breakaway with about twelve seconds left in the first half (though I have since heard that it was, in fact, Travis Trice who called the timeout) and not fouling Maryland before the Terps were able to launch the game-tying three-pointer that sent the game into the first overtime.

 

The bottom line is that this basketball team is not very good right now. Perhaps part of this is due to Branden Dawson still overcoming his injury. But even with a healthy Dawson, this team has struggled against good competition. There are just too many weaknesses: lack of a consistent interior presence, absolutely atrocious free throw shooting that never seems to improve, and an overreliance on perimeter shooting that is inconsistent at best. To top it all off, there is nobody on the team that seems able to take charge when the game is on the line.

 

It may just be "one of those years." But I fear that if matters don't improve, MSU's NCAA tournament streak is in jeopardy

Some post-Big Ten tournament thoughts and observations

Only a week ago the sky was falling, now MSU are critical darlings. Sports Illustrated chose MSU to appear on one of their six regional tournament special issues. Even the President of the United States has the Spartans winning the national title. Being a naturally neurotic Spartan fan, all this adoration has me worried. I suppose as long as the MSU team views all this attention as flattering and nothing more, and remains focused on the task at hand, they will be fine.

 

Maybe the team will actually view the NCAA tournament as relief. After all, they were ranked number one early in the season, lost to North Carolina, fell from that lofty perch, then endured all of the injuries and frustrations of the Big Ten season. The team is finally healthy and ended the Big Ten season on a bright note, not only able to play (and win) three games with all the pieces back in place, but get a little payback against Wisconsin and Michigan, and win a tournament title in the process. Now, this is not to suggest that all the Spartans' problems are completely solved (though, who knows, maybe they are), but I'd much rather have MSU enter the NCAA tournament on this note than having bowed out early in the Big Ten tournament.

I've never been a big fan of the Big Ten tournament, but it is certainly sweet when "your" team wins. The post-season college basketball conference tournaments are akin to extra credit in school. If you're a student who has, for whatever reason, not done well during the school term, your teacher will give you the opportunity to elevate your grade with extra credit. The conference tournaments give the average or under-achieving teams an opportunity to "raise their grades." The top teams generally have little to gain from the tournaments, so it's not surprising when they bow out early.

 

Now a little more about the Big Ten tournament championship game against Michigan, a subject I still have yet to tire of discussing, though by tomorrow it'll officially be old news and time to move on.
 

In my pre-game post, I wrote that I would need some "happy drugs" to get me through it. As far as mind and /or pain-dulling "drugs," there really wasn't much need for anything. I consumed a grandé iced Americano in the first half and was pretty well hopped up on caffeine by that point. In the second half, I sucked down three beers and reverted back to my bachelor days for awhile, as I watched the game while pacing around the living room.

By the way, I didn't scratch my schadenfreude itch by listening to WTKA on Monday morning. By the time I tuned into the station, the show hosts had fallen into their default position in times of distress:a football recruiting discussion.

 

Some big plays I noticed while watching the replay of the MSU/Michigan game:

 

In the first half, Travis Trice had a terrific drive, splitting two defenders to the basket, tossing up an acrobatic underhand layup when the shot clock was winding down. That was an important play at another point in the game where it appeared the Wolverines were poised to make a move. The steady emergence of Travis Trice could and should be big for this team in the NCAA tournament, as great guard play is almost always a key to success this time of year.

 

Gary Harris dribble drive to the basket for the slam with only a few seconds left on the clock near the end of the first half. This kept momentum with MSU at a point in the game when it looked like Michigan was perhaps one three-pointer away from closing the gap to four points, and feeling good about themselves heading into the locker room.

 

The Spartans jumped all over Michigan as soon as the second half started and immediately seized control, not allowing Michigan an opportunity to get back in the game.

 

It's safe to say everyone knew the game was probably a Michigan State win after Branden Dawson's windmill dunk at the 16:57 mark of the second half. One could almost feel and hear the energy drain from Michigan after that play.

 

There is a danger in celebrating too much or too hard after defeating ones arch rival in basketball. I learned the hard way last year after MSU's 75-52 win in East Lansing. This win over Michigan is more of a "we're still here" statement rather than a "reestablishment of the natural order" win that some MSU fans seem to think of it. As long as Beilein is in Ann Arbor, Michigan basketball will remain strong.

 

I see no reason why both programs can't be strong at the same time, there are certainly enough good basketball players in the Midwest to spread the wealth evenly. Folks around here seem to think that if one program elevates, then the other program automatically must go down. I know that's not the way people see things in North Carolina with the UNC Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils. A few years ago, UNC had a string of six-consecutive wins over Duke. I didn't hear a single commentator or fan say that Mike Krzyzewski had "lost it" the same way I heard people in these parts declare that Izzo was on the way down after Michigan won six of the last eight in the MSU/UM series.

 

Perhaps part of this is due the fact that we in Michigan aren't used to having two strong basketball programs at the same time. We automatically assume that if one is up, the other needs to be down. In North Carolina, it's a given that both Duke and UNC will be strong every year, and even NC State is never counted out. The state of North Carolina is accustomed to having multiple strong programs within its borders year-in and year-out.

 

For the foreseeable future, the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines will take turns delivering body blows in this rivalry. Now, as you all know I don't root for the Maize and Blue in anything, but even I must grudgingly admit that having two nationally prominent basketball programs in the Great Lakes State is a nifty situation.

It's time to put the regular season to bed, get ready for most important part of the college basketball calendar--March Madness. I hope that the Spartans can overcome all the national love and affection they have been receiving for the last four days.

 

Ready or not, here comes the postseason

With a 23-8 regular season record and a 12-6 third place finish in the Big Ten, it's strange to say that this has been a disappointing season for Michigan State mens basketball--but it has been.

Where does one start to explain the nature and full extent of this disappointment? Let's go down the list:

Injuries. Injuries were certainly an issue and not an excuse, no matter what critics may say. Adreian Payne, Keith Appling, Matt Costello, Branden Dawson, and Travis Trice (am I missing anyone?) all missed significant time this season, and mainly when it was the most felt--in the conference season. The constant injury problems made it impossible for MSU to get a rotation going or to develop any chemistry on the floor.

That other school down the road. Michigan won the Big Ten title, and that makes this third place finish even more difficult to swallow, certainly from a fan's perspective. If any other Big Ten team had won the title, it wouldn't be nearly as painful. But not only does it kill me that Michigan won the title, but they swept the regular season series from MSU.

Unfulfilled expectations. This reason for this particular strand of disappointment is tied very closely to the injury situation. Before the bottom fell out health-wise, MSU had an 18-1 record and looked for all the world like the front-runner for Big Ten champion and a national title run. This is what many expected before the season and these looked like very approachable goals.

Occasional lapses in focus and/or energy. This has been a problem all season, dating back to nonconference games against teams such as North Carolina and Cornell. Sometimes, for whatever reason, the Spartans seem to lack energy and focus. They just don't get after it with dogged determination of previous MSU basketball teams. This continued in lackluster performances against Georgetown, Nebraska, and Illinois. I doubt that there is a switch that can be turned on to make these guys play with 100 percent effort every game, but if there is, it needs to be found immediately.

So now the Big Ten tournament has started, and I have somewhat low expectations for MSU. It's not that I don't think the Spartans could have a great conference tournament, and a great NCAA tournament, it's just that the likelihood of this happening seems slim. The flicker of light comes from the fact that the team is finally healthy and at full strength from a personnel standpoint. But I don't know if the team has had enough time to gel as a unit. Chemistry, more than raw talent, is the most important aspect of basketball and I question whether MSU will be able to achieve chemistry in time for a successful postseason run.

One last parting shot. If any coach in America (besides Mike Krzyzewski, perhaps) can get a basketball team rolling in the postseason, it's Tom Izzo. I've learned that one can never count out the Spartans as long as Izzo is at the helm. One dismisses or forgets about Coach Izzo at ones peril. And would there be anything much sweeter than an MSU win in the Big Ten tournament, defeating the likes of Wisconsin and Michigan along the way? Only a national title could be better.

Izzo and basketball attendance; and Dantonio's place in MSU football history

Tom Izzo and last night's basketball attendance

Last night, after the Spartan basketball team dispatched the Portland Pilots at Breslin Center, Tom Izzo expressed his extreme displeasure that so few people had turned out for the game.

While I can understand Izzo's disappointment, or can at the very least empathize, the terrible storms in lower and mid-Michigan must have had something to do with this. Thousands of people lost power late on Sunday night and the wee hours of Monday morning. I speculate that this is what kept people away.

While I always welcome Tom Izzo's candor, and generally think he's on target with his comments and criticisms, I don't know if his anger over this was well-timed. I wonder if he considered that the damage caused by Sunday night's storm, and its aftermath, had anything to do with the empty seats?

Whatever the case may be, I certainly hope that attendance improves for the upcoming home basketball games. After all, we do have the number one team in the land. If we continue to see empty seats at Breslin Center, than there is a problem due more to complacency than bad weather and power outages.

Mark Dantonio's place in MSU coaching history

From Tom Izzo, undeniably the greatest coach in MSU basketball history (and possibly the greatest coach MSU has had in any sport), to Mark Dantonio, a coach who is staking a claim as one of the best the university has seen.

With the victory at Nebraska, Dantonio won his 60th game as MSU's head football coach. Yesterday, I did a quick Wikipedia search to see how he stacks up with other Spartan football coaches.

Dantonio currently has the second highest Big Ten winning percentage in MSU football history. He's behind only Biggie Munn, who coached the Spartans in their inaugural year of conference play before stepping down to become university athletic director. Munn had a 5-1 conference record in 1953, an .833 winning percentage. Dantonio's current Big Ten record is 36-18 (.667). So among Spartan football coaches who have coached multiple Big Ten seasons (probably a better basis for comparison than Munn's lone conference season in '53), Dantonio is all alone in first place.

Coach D, in only his seventh season, is already fourth all-time in victories. His 60 wins are behind Duffy Daugherty (109), Charlie Bachman (70) and George Perles (officially 68, with 5 wins from the 1994 season forfeited).

Dantonio, with an overall win/loss record of 60-29, has a .674 winning percentage. This is third all-time behind Biggie Munn's virtually unapproachable .846 and Chester Brewer's .699.

It's true that, unlike Munn and Daugherty, Dantonio doesn't have any national championships. But let's face it, the landscape of college football has changed since Munn and Daugherty were coaching in the '40s, '50s, and '60s. It may not be completely realistic at this point to expect MSU to contend for national titles when Alabama and the SEC rule the roost. Demographics have changed substantially over the last few decades, and the Big Ten may never be as powerful as it was in the days of Munn and Daugherty.

For what Dantonio has accomplished, with the resources he's had at his disposal, he ranks among the best football coaches in Michigan State University history.

(Addendum: At the conclusion of the 2013 football season, Dantonio's overall record is even better than it was when I originally wrote this post. He has an overall record of 64-29 (.679), and a conference record of 38-18 (.688)).

 

Sweet Sixteen bound

Well don't I look silly worrying about a Valpo upset. Michigan State dispatched the Crusaders without any trouble and then, despite a whopping 18 turnovers, thoroughly dismantled Memphis in one of the best defensive performances the Spartans have had all season.

I want to write more in here: about CBS' coverage, the Cinderella victories of Florida Gulf Coast and LaSalle, the blown calls in some of these games, and MSU's next opponent--the hated Duke Blue Devils. If I can make it to a computer, and have some time, I'll write more soon.

***

Amazingly, I found a moment when a computer was free here at home and I'm back.

Do I really hate Duke? I have tremendous respect for Coach K and his program. Maybe it's not so much Duke I hate as the constant adulation the program receives, but when you get down to it, the ubiquitous media fawning is deserved. Before Coach K arrived in Durham in 1980, Duke had a good--if not great--program. Krzyzewski elevated the program to heights it had never seen before, much as Tom Izzo has done at Michigan State.

Duke has presented the one obstacle that MSU's program has had difficulty crossing. In seven head-to-head match ups, Izzo's Spartans have only won once (2005 Sweet Sixteen featuring Mo Ager's oft-YouTubed in-your-face-disgrace dunk on J.J. Reddick). Most of the games between Duke and MSU have been close, with the only blowout I can remember coming in the 2003-2004 season when the Blue Devils hammered the Spartans at Breslin Center. (For what it's worth, that game has to rank as one of the most disappointing home games in MSU history, and a game that--in my opinion--haunted that MSU team all season).

Then there's the Jabari Parker situation. In a hotly contested recruiting battle, Jabari Parker chose Duke over Michigan State. That Duke brand is still a tough one to beat, and I know many MSU fans would like nothing more than to beat Duke as vengeance for losing the battle for Parker.

Duke is the gold standard of college basketball, and Coach K is arguably the greatest college basketball coach of all time. Yes, I know many would argue in favor of John Wooden, and a valid argument can be made for the Wizard of Westwood, but college basketball wasn't nearly as competitive in Wooden's era as it has been in Coach K's tenure. What Krzyzewski has done at Duke over the last 33 years is more impressive in an era in which there are so many more good programs and great coaches.

It'd be an outstanding accomplishment, and another feather in Tom Izzo's already well-decorated cap, to beat Duke this year and move on to the Elite Eight.

Exciting win over Iowa; and appreciating the current glory years

Tonight's MSU win over Iowa fit the description of "barn burner." Somehow, some way, the Spartans had enough to beat an inspired Hawkeye team that seemed to lose their legs a bit in the last few minutes of the game. Now, it's another date with Ohio State.

These are the glory years of Michigan State basketball, and we as fans need to appreciate them while they last. I remember a time when just making the NCAA tournament was a cause for celebration. God bless Jud Heathcote, but he had his share of mediocre-to-godawful teams that in some years were just lucky to make the NIT. Tom Izzo has elevated the program to heights we've never seen before, and who knows if we'll see them again when he retires or moves on.

I certainly don't mean to disrespect Jud Heathcote. He was a truly great coach who may have been a little hamstrung by having to recruit kids to play in Jenison Field House, and his own (quite admirable) refusal to kiss the asses of high school basketball players.  This trait may have cost Jud a few top drawer recruits over his years at MSU. As it turns out, besides the 1979 national championship team, a guy named Tom Izzo is probably Jud Heathcote's greatest gift to Michigan State University.

Michigan State versus Wisconsin, and to root for UM or not to root for UM, that is the question

I went to the MSU/Wisconsin basketball game on Thursday night and, though watching the Badgers' "style" of basketball--and I use the term basketball loosely when describing the way Wisconsin drags the game back to the peach basket era--I enjoyed myself. There is nothing like experiencing college basketball in a live setting, particularly at Breslin. Though the students are currently on spring break, the "alumni Izzone" brought the noise and it was a great atmosphere (even if nothing compared to the frenzy of the Michigan game--nothing could top that).

I was pleased with Spartans' performance on Thursday night. Keith Appling, as I expected, broke out of his funk and the whole team really put it together. Adreian Payne had one of his best games of the year. Travis Trice was outstanding, Denzel Valentine made some outstanding passes, and the Spartans got it done. Conversely, the Badgers looked horrible. I don't know how much of that was due to MSU's defense, or the aftershock of Purdue pummeling the Badgers at Kohl Center last week. Wisconsin couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and seemed to pass the ball the guys in green-and-white more often than the players in red. Oh, and a note to Bo Ryan: you may want to recruit better athletes. As well as Wisconsin players adapt to Bo's system and execute it well, at some point the team's lack of athleticism is exposed by better opponents.

After struggling against Bo Ryan when Bo first entered the conference, Tom Izzo's teams have now won five straight over Wisconsin. Maybe that is due to MSU simply having better teams than Bo, but at least some of it might be a case of Tom figuring out how to play against Bo's ugly style of hoops. The keys seem to be a) patience on the defensive end, knowing that Wisconsin likes to use the entire shot clock and b) disrupting passing lanes and being active with your hands to force turnovers thereby helping to create fast break opportunities. The one thing Wisconsin doesn't like to do is run. (One of the most interesting stats from the game was 15 fast break points for Michigan State and--unsurprisingly-zero for Wisconsin).

It occurs to me that I never intended this blog to be a platform for me to wow anyone with my x's and o's expertise, since I don't have an illusions of being a sports expert. So if anyone out there with any real basketball knowledge is reading this and things I'm full of crap, please don't hesitate to let me know.

***

On the Lansing-area sports talk shows this past week, one of the major topics of discussion was whether or not MSU fans should root for Michigan to beat Indiana on Sunday. A Wolverine win over the Hoosiers would guarantee the Spartans a share of the Big Ten title, though that means Michigan would ALSO be a co-champion. The way I see it, I root for Michigan State first and foremost and try not to concern myself with what Michigan does. How can any self-respecting MSU fan NOT want the Spartans to win another banner to hang from the rafters at Breslin? It's not a matter of "rooting for Michigan" but "rooting against Indiana."

(I'm being summoned for domestic duty, so I shall try and finish this later).

Catching up with Spartan (and college) basketball

I haven't written in this blog since the Indiana loss, and I'm sure all one or two of my readers have missed my presence...right?

Since the resounding win over Michigan at Breslin, the Spartans have been treading water. The trouncing of the Wolverines really was not the catalyst I thought it might be, but then again the schedule has been less than favorable for MSU. The Spartans put in a workmanlike performance on the road against Nebraska for a win, then did not play particularly well against Indiana in the big showdown at Breslin. For whatever reason (in his postgame comments, Tom Izzo mentioned "distractions", which could indicate a multitude of possible scenarios) the Spartans did not play with the same focus and determination as they had against Michigan. I'm sure a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that Indiana is not MSU's arch rival and even with first place on the line, did not elicit the same passion from the players. Accordingly, the crowd at Breslin didn't have the same fervor they had at the Michigan game.

The Ohio State loss was baffling. The Spartans seemed in control at halftime, but the game slipped away in the second half. But let's remember that the game was played on the road in Columbus against a team that had already lost to the Spartans and was unwilling to lose another game against MSU. (Oh, and the Buckeyes are a pretty darned good team, too).

In his press conference this week, Tom Izzo said (and I'm paraphrasing) that the MSU fans are panicking. I don't think that's entirely true, though it may seem that way from his perspective. I'm guessing the only fans panicking are a) the "glass-is-half-empty" folks who freak out over every loss and/or b) the fans who don't follow the basketball team too closely anyway and become despondent over any loss (regardless of the opponent or venue).

Most preseason prognosticators had MSU finishing in the middle of the conference this year, and this team has already exceeded those expectations. Much has been made about how youthful the Michigan Wolverines are this season, but Michigan State only has one senior (Derrick Nix) on this year's squad. Last year's vocal leader, Draymond Green, is in the NBA. Despite being a captain, it doesn't appear that Nix has the same personality as Green, nor do any of the other Spartans. In the future, I can envision Matt Costello or possibly Denzel Valentine filling that role. But this season, those guys are freshman and not really in a position to take on that leadership role. It's a rare freshman who can gain enough confidence and respect from his or her teammates to become a leader, with Earvin "Magic" Johnson coming to mind immediately.

What I'm getting at is that MSU's struggles of late may also have to do with the fact they don't have a vocal leader who takes command when the going gets rough, and that is due to the youth of this year's team. The Spartans have three freshmen (Gary Harris, Denzel Valentine, and Matt Costello) who play significant minutes. Travis Trice and Branden Dawson are still only sophomores, and though Keith Appling is a junior, his personality seems to be that of a quiet guy and not a natural leader.

So later today the Spartans will take on the Wolverines again, this time at the Crisler Center. (I still have a hard time calling Crisler by it's new name. It'll always be Crisler Arena to me. Quite frankly, I'm surprised the folks at Michigan would give the place a new name that sounds so similar to Breslin Center). The general feeling on sports talk radio this week is that Michigan is down after the Wolverines' stunning loss to Penn State and has lost some confidence. I don't buy that for a second. Michigan will be jacked to the moon for this game and will want to prove that the Penn State loss, and the beating they took at Breslin, were anomalies. I expect that Michigan will win a close game today over the Spartans. I certainly hope I'm wrong, but realistically the Spartans will probably have a difficult time winning against the Wolverines in what amounts to a payback game.

The last two games of the season are at Breslin, and I think the Spartans will win those--but it will be interesting to see how a potential three-game losing streak will affect MSU. Wisconsin has become the Spartans' second most hated rival, so maybe the Breslin crowd will be enough to lift the Spartans past their doldrums and on to victory. The season finale is against Northwestern, and not to sound too cocky, but I don't think the Wildcats have a prayer in that game. The emotion of Senior Day will lead the Spartans to a 15-20 point win.

But first up, Michigan. Strap on your seat belts and get ready for what should be one hell of a ride at Crisler.

The Courtship of Jabari Parker

Today's the day.

The day when a 17 year-old basketball player from Simeon High School in Chicago finally announces where he intends on playing his college ball.

I don't generally follow recruiting that closely, but this one has been unavoidable. The wooing of this youngster really places the spotlight on how crazy recruiting has become, and the incredible and costly lengths that coaches will go to in order to sign a prospect.

Within the last week, Tom Izzo has flown to Texas and Chicago to be near Jabari Parker, taking time away from his team to remind this kid, "We really want you and are extremely interested in you." Mike Krzyzewski has done essentially the same. How much money does this cost Michigan State and Duke, and all for a player who may not even sign for either school?  It's madness, but what else is new? College sports in general has become madness. Yet I, and many others, continue to support it with enthusiasm, further encouraging the "arms race" between competing colleges and universities.

Stay tuned. At 4:00 or so when Jabari Parker makes his announcement. Only one school and fanbase will be happy, while several others will be sad, having spent many hours, days, and money only to come up empty-handed.

Having written all of that, I will be absolutely elated if Jabari Parker chooses MSU.

Postscript: Jabari Parker chose Duke, and has had an outstanding freshman season for the Blue Devils. Cue "sad face."

Survive and advance: Michigan State 65, Saint Louis 61

I'm watching the end of the Purdue/Kansas game and rooting on the Boilers.  They've outplayed the Jayhawks and deserve to win this one.  I hope they can hang on. (After leading the entire game, the Boilermakers couldn't hang on and lost to Kansas, 63-60. Coach Painter and the Boilers appeared to lose their heads a bit in the last minute and fell apart. Robbie Hummel, a kid for whom I have tremendous respect, played his heart out. Purdue's loss was a major bummer--but still great that 25% of the Sweet Sixteen is from the Big Ten.).

What an ugly game played today between MSU and Saint Louis.  The Billikens make Wisconsin look like the "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers.  Saint Louis was methodical, plodding, and defensive-minded, with a style of play that could charitably be called "extremely physical".  In short, it was not a fun game to watch.  The last 40 seconds of the game were particularly excruciating, but thankfully the Spartans managed to hang on for the victory.

It's a testament to how great Tom Izzo is as a coach that MSU, in the space of two days, was able to go from the "track meet" style of LIU hoops to the slog-it-out sludge of Saint Louis.  It's that type of flexibility that has allowed MSU basketball to be so successful throughout Izzo's tenure.

And even though Saint Louis' style was hard on the eyes, credit is due to Rick Majerus.  That guy is able to wring every last drop out of whatever minimal amout of talent he has.  The Billikens may not have the best players, but they certainly play hard.

My drink of choice for this particular MSU game, as I know you're all dying to know, was one bottle of Blue Moon consumed during the second half.  A few f-bombs were hurled as well.  Certainly the expletives shouted by yours truly in this game far exceeded those in Friday's LIU game.  Now, I need to get the blood pressure down for a few days in preparation for MSU's Sweet Sixteen game against Louisville on Thursday night.

It's nice to see that with these two tournament victories, MSU has evened its all-time record against both LIU and Saint Louis.  The Spartans are now 2-2 against LIU and 1-1 against Saint Louis.

So the Louisville Cardinals are MSU's next opponent. Louisville was a middle of the pack Big East team, but have been playing extremely well as of late.  They've won six straight with two impressive victories over ranked teams: 84-71 over Marquette and a 64-50 decision against Notre Dame.  Unlike some of the run-and-gun Louisville teams of the past, this one wins with defense and a full-court press (which has been Pitino's signature throughout his coaching career) that wears out many opponents. The Cardinals are led by speedy point guard Peyton Siva, and also have a somewhat flaky guard from New York named Russ Smith who has, shall we say, a complicated relationship with coach Rick Pitino.  Here's an interesting article about Louisville that appeared in today's New York Times.

I don't know if I'll be posting anything on this blog until Thursday, but we'll see.  In any case, lets all get some rest for a few days and I'll see you again on Thursday, March 22.  I'm now gonna unwind with the last three minutes of a hotly contested game between Cincinnati and Florida State.

Can't believe I'm saying this, "Thank you, Badgers!"...

...though it's not as if the Spartans needed their help that much, because I believe they should win at least one of their remaining two games, and with Ohio State free falling the way they are, it's hard to imagine the Spartans losing on senior day at Breslin Center.

Tom Izzo has his seventh Big Ten title in 17 seasons as MSU's head coach.  Quite an amazing feat. As I wrote to a friend on Facebook, we have gone from the most underachieving, frustrating team of the Izzo era last year to the most overachieving, hardworking team of the Izzo era this season.  It's been an incredible turnaround and has to rank as one of Izzo's best coaching jobs.  However, Tom Izzo would probably agree that a coach's job is much easier when he has players who work well together and want to work hard, and when said coach also has a senior leader like Draymond Green.

Speaking of Day-Day, he has now officially joined the pantheon of great Spartan basketball players.  That Mt. Rushmore of the MSU hardwood includes such luminaries as Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Gregory Kelser, Scott Skiles, Steve Smith, and Mateen Cleaves.  It will only be a matter of time (three years maximum?) before Draymond Green has his number hanging in the rafters of the Breslin Center.

While I'm on the subject of the pantheon of Spartan hardwood greats, what more does Tom Izzo need to do to further cement himself as the greatest coach in Michigan State athletics history?  Is there even a debate that he's the greatest we have ever seen in East Lansing, regardless of sport?  I suppose an argument could be made that Biggie Munn is the best, but Biggie was only football coach for seven seasons.  And as good as Duffy Daugherty was as football coach, he doesn't have the hardware that Izzo has, and his career took a precipitous slide after high water mark of 1966.  As I see it, Izzo is the best coach in MSU history.

Catching up, and looking forward to Nebraska

It's been more than a week since I've posted in here, and since then the Spartans have defeated Purdue, in an impressive performance in West Lafayette, and struggled to put away Minnesota in Minneapolis. Although the win over the Gophers was far from impressive, those are the type of slog-it-out games a team has to endure to win a championship.

Tonight, the Spartans go up against bottom-feeder Nebraska in an 8 PM game at Breslin.  Like the Minnesota game, this could be viewed as another quintessential "trap" game: go out there without enough energy and the Huskers could sneak out with a win.  Now, I don't think MSU will come out with the same determination they'd have against, say, Michigan or Ohio State (or even Purdue), but I just don't see them losing this game.  If nothing else, Draymond Green won't allow it.  I could see Nebraska hanging with State for a half, but not much more than that.  The Spartans are peaking now, have a Big Ten title in their sights, and should win this one by at least 15 points.

There's been some discussion around here ("around here" being the Lansing area) regarding this season and how it ranks among Tom Izzo's best ever coaching jobs.  I want to see how the rest of the season plays out before I make a final assessment.  If the Spartans go on to win the Big Ten championship, then it has to rank in my top three.  Without doing any research on the matter, and just going with the top of my head, I'd put the 2004-05 season as number one, and the 1999-2000 National Championship season as number two.

I will try and get back to this blog later tonight after the Nebraska game and rehash today's basketball action, something I neglected to do after both the Purdue and Minnesota games.  Between the Michigan/Purdue game at 6:00 and the MSU/Nebraska match up, it should be fun.

Colossal win for Spartan hoops!

I am watching the third period of Michigan State's hockey game against Michigan and basking in the glow of the Spartan cagers win over Ohio State, and I must also say I am feeling the warmth of a celebratory glass of pinot noir.

As I stated in a previous post (thank you!), Tom Izzo thrives on games like the one we had tonight: a big game against a formidable foe with a lot at stake.  This had the feel of an NCAA tournament game, and everyone knows how well the Izzo-led Spartans have done in March Madness.

It was a tremendous defensive effort by the Spartans.  Sullinger was frustrated the entire game, and Buford was neutralized.  Certainly not the prettiest game one will ever see, but whatever--I'll take the win.

Quite improbably and amazingly, the Spartans are in the driver's seat for the Big Ten title, and if MSU wins it, it just might be the best coaching job of Tom Izzo's career--and this is a man who has had his share of incredible coaching jobs.