If you visit here regularly, you know, I don't blindly follow the Big Ten just because of conference affiliation...I'm genrally not a fan of aOSU and some other programs in the conference...and while familiarity breeds contempt in many cases, I like MSU and their demonstrative coach...The guy knows how to win and really knows how to win in the tournament. And what his Spartans did today might lead well into next season. Granted, MSU will lose some cogs in its machine next season, but they'll get respect and hopefully the rest of the conference will as well...and even more importantly, Next year looks like it could be a great one for the talented Sophomore class in the conference...thus, the high-expectations could be met.
All year, EsPN made a joke about the Big Ten's lack of offensive prowess...it became a running joke. While Illinois' late-season 36-point game is an unforgivably-low amount, games in the low-50s were a normal occurrence for the conference. The Entertainment networked laughed it off and refused to talk about defense as the reason...but the performance today by the explosive Cardinals reaffirms what we knew all-along, the BT was a meat-grinder filled with good teams...and one of the perennial leaders demanded respect versus the mighty Big East this afternoon.
And make no mistake, this might not be all for the Spartans...they're all but heading back home now.
And by the way, the Big East conference (best conference ever) champ ends their season 0-2 v. the versus the worst major basketball conference ever (according to Digger Phelps).Congrats to all of the followers of Sparty!
8 comments:
Not only did Izzo stick it to Slick Rick and the Talking Heads as E(no S)PN, but they helped my bracket in the process.
I just wish Izzo had taken the post-game chance to tell Kravitz to suck it. I'm sick and tired of him trying to pry Izzo loose from Sparty, first for the IU job and now for Kentucky. Why does he (and a chunk of the media) seem to think that MSU is any less of a "program" now than either of those other two?
Dowd, I'm with you - I bleed black and gold, but I've always respected Sparty and I pull for them in almost all situations (minus the obvious ones that benefit us) and I'm happy for them, their fans and the Big Ten
And, despite the fact that I want Griffin to abuse Hansborough, I need the Heels to perform here
Whole lotta horses in Carolina Blue...and everybody's healthy.
UNC's my national champ.
Mine too - unfortunately. Zeller can bite it too. Thabeet would have abused him, but it would have been nice to have him in there and let JJ roam around. I'm not even going to go down the path of "one player away" with the Boilers though. Makes me want to throw up
Incidentally, why are the UNC players shooting like they are in a dome? FedEx center is a legit hoops arena, but a whole bunch of their shots are ending up about a foot short
I have observed during this tournament that the B-10 teams usually do well when they force the other team to play a big ten style game. See Michigan-Clemson, MSU- Louisville. Izzo is one of the best at this and I think Painter is getting there too.
Izzo would be insane to leave East Lansing for Kentucky. He can have an 18-win season every now and then at MSU and not catch too much heck. At UK, they would call for his head. (See Smith, Tubby. I think Gillispie was in over his head and pretty much got himself fired.)
Both MSU here games were amazing. It was very impressive to see the Spartans drag both teams into their style of play. As an Ann Arbor native, I find it hard to root for MSU, but against Kansas and Louisville it was easy, and being in the MSU section for those games was an experience I won't forget.
If only it had happened like that in '88 ... I still hate Kansas State.
Also, Digger's already picking UConn. I wonder what he'll do when he has no more Big Ten teams to kick around?
Izzo has gone to 5 final fours in 11 years! Why would he leave when he already has a top program?
Also, did anyone else realize that he was married to a mannequin??
Eric, she's either a mannequin or has two fake eyes...because she doesn't blink.
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