Elite Eight (and beyond)

Earlier in this blog, I know I criticized Bo Ryan. I can't remember the specific posts, but it's easy enough to find them.

 

I'm going on the record right now to say I've changed my tune, and I'm truly happy that he and his Wisconsin Badgers team have earned a spot in the Final Four. Bo Ryan is undeniably a great coach who seems considerably more humble now than he was when he first arrived in Madison. He has paid and his dues and deserves to finally win the big one.

 

MSU beat Virginia last night in a bare knuckled fistfight of a game. It wasn't always pretty to watch--who's kidding who, it was downright ugly--but the Spartans made big plays down the stretch and closed out the game in a fashion that tested the heart health of anyone watching.

 

The worst part of the 10:15 start time was that I knew, no matter the outcome, I'd be so wired after the game that I wouldn't be able to sleep until at least 2 AM, and that's precisely what happened. Adrenaline-induced insomnia set in and I found it impossible to calm down. At least it was a Friday night.

 

MSU takes on UConn for a spot in the Final Four. Quite frankly, MSU has been through too much to lose this game. Now, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself because UConn has been playing well and Shabazz Napier is a hell of a player, but I just don't see the Huskies beating the Spartans.

Sweet Sixteen

I'm coming at you from my smartphone, so I apologize in advance for any typos.

Since I last wrote in this blog, the MSU men's basketball team rolled past Delaware and survived a bit of a scare from feisty Harvard. Now, it's a showdown with #1 seed Virginia tomorrow night.

I have a feeling this game against Virginia will not be a thing of beauty. With Tony Bennett's hard nosed defensive approach, almost identical to his father Dick Bennett's Wisconsin teams, this game may be similar to the 2000 Final Four game between Michigan State and the Badgers. In a game that more closely resembled a wrestling match, the Spartans won 53-41.

A close game with Virginia should be good for MSU, as big leads don't seem to suit them well. Their minds tend to wander, as they did in the second half against Harvard. A game against a team like Virginia will force the Spartans to be diligent for a full 40 minutes, and I hope will bode well for a win.

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.

 

A glorious weekend in Indianapolis

It was as if all the frustrations of an often disappointing regular season completely fell to the wayside in one glorious weekend.
 

Quite simply, these were the best three games the Michigan State basketball team had played all season.
 

On Friday night, the Spartans thoroughly dominated an undermanned Northwestern. Saturday, MSU played an almost flawless first half against Wisconsin. Despite a furious comeback attempt by the Badgers, MSU hung on to win by eight points.
 

And then there was yesterday's 69-55 Big Ten tournament championship victory over Michigan. The Spartans brought more hunger and passion than I'd seen from them all season, and showed everyone exactly what this team is capable of accomplishing when all the pieces are together and in sync.
 

It all bodes well for a potentially memorable NCAA tournament run.

 

Spartans and Wolverines for all the marbles

For the first time in the history of the Big Ten basketball tournament, Michigan State and Michigan will play a game. (Considering this is the 18th year of the tournament, this is quite amazing).  It's not just any ordinary game though, it's the championship game. It's somehow appropriate that when the two rivals finally meet in this tournament after so many years, it would be in the biggest game with the tournament championship at stake.

I don't know if my heart can take it. I many need heavy sedation to survive this game. But if MSU can find a way to win this game, the victory will certainly rank up there with the Big Ten football championship game (but well below the Rose Bowl) as my MSU sports highlight of 2013-2014.

Earlier in the season, probably after the second loss to Michigan, I publicly hoped for a third shot at Michigan, and now--amazingly--I received my wish. The Spartans are healthy and played two of their best games of the season against Northwestern and Wisconsin. This is the matchup I wished for and now it has come to pass. If the Spartans lose to Michigan again, no excuses offered.

Michigan has squeaked by Illinois and Ohio State. Their victories appear on the surface to be unimpressive, in truth the Wolverines deserve tremendous credit for making the important plays in "winning time," i.e. the last few minutes of the game. I'm concerned about Michigan's ability to put adversity behind them and close out games in the waning moments.

I don't like Michigan (if you hadn't already figured that out), but one can't help but be impressed with how every player on the Wolverine team knows his role and they fulfill those roles to perfection. (I respect John Beilein and what he's done at Michigan, quite frankly it's most of Michigan's fanbase that I can live without).

I don't remember a Michigan State game with such "high risk/high reward," at least from a fan's perspective. Win today, and I'm in heaven. There is a sense of vindication, and I can imagine myself listening to WTKA (the Ann Arbor sports talk radio station) tomorrow for a healthy dose of schadenfreude. On the other hand, lose and it's three straight defeats to Michigan and seven of the last nine. Depression will set in and I will need to either go into hiding or take up a few other hobbies in lieu of college basketball fandom. (I'm only being slightly tongue-in-cheek).

In any event, I believe I may need copious amounts of happy drugs and/or adult libations in order to make it through today's game.

Michigan State 67, Northwestern 51

Yes, it was only Northwestern, but it was a win for the Spartans and there were encouraging signs going forward.

The defensive intensity was there, particularly in the first half. I can't remember the last time I saw MSU play defense with such tenacity.

Branden Dawson looked great: dominating the boards with ferocity and "cleaning up the garbage" under the basket.

Denzel Valentine also had a fantastic game, and provided an ESPN highlight clip with his behind-the-back no-look pass to a trailing Matt Costello for a slam.

The question now is can MSU follow up this game with another excellent game. This has become all too familiar: MSU plays great against a weaker opponent only to follow up with a lackluster performance against a stronger foe. Today, the Spartans will be facing Wisconsin, a team that is playing better than anyone else in the Big Ten. It remains to be seen whether MSU can string together two consecutive outstanding performances.

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.