Parting thought from MSU-Michigan Part I

Just about any time the Spartans get a big home win, there's talk afterward of how the crowd was great, it gave them a big boost, etc., etc. On this night, I thought Breslin's fans fully deserved all the love they got.

I found it strange that Tom Izzo was asked Monday if he was worried that his team's four-game slide -- causing plenty of fan unrest on the message boards and talk-radio airwaves -- might result in a drab crowd for this game. Izzo brushed it off. But before the game, with blowing snow and bad roads outside, I began to wonder if this might be a bit less of a homecourt edge than a typical U-M game.

Nah. You MSU fans still love sticking it to the Wolverines, don't you? The place was thumping, even through a painfully dull first half, and the Izzone and Co. really seemed to energize the Spartans and demoralize the Wolverines at key moments.

"The fans, boy, when we were tiring they really brought us along," Izzo said. "To have a full house on a night like this at 9 o'clock says a lot."

They were huge. And they were careful. Late in the game, an "NIT!" chant emerged from the Izzone, a favorite at the end of wins over Michigan. But it was quickly squashed by other Izzoners. One, right behind me, said "Shut up, we might be in the NIT too!"

These kids are getting pretty good at the whole self-policing thing.

Comments

[JMCSpartan08]

The Izzone was great tonight! Did you see those four guys who painted Izzo on their chests? I thought the "O" was particularly good.

[msumick]

Great win last night. We looked awful in the first half, but Neitzel kept us in the ballgame. Morgan was so determined and played great especially in the second half. He will be a prime time ball player before he leaves. I think that along with defense,it's our conditioning that beats opponents in the second half. Michigan appeared to me to run out of gas early in second half, while we continued to be all over them on defense.

[Andy]

Defense wins games and as I've said all along, if someone can step up with Drew every night, be it Raymar or Goran or both, I am confident that we can play with anyone. Got to get three more to go to the NCAA's. Starts with Iowa.

[cdawg]

I thought this might be the year that the Weasels sweep the 2 games. With 4 of 5 of their top scorers seniors, and a probable coaching change, it doesn't look good for them in the years to come. MSU doesn't have any seniors on their entire team, and a top recuiting class on the way.

[Evergreen]

Look for the Wolverines to remain in the proverbial toilet. I still see a wide open chance of us blowing the game in Ann Arbor (rendering last night's win far less meaningful), but Michigan does not have that good of a team. We're in a rebuilding year and are on par with them this year. They should be having a great year, with all their experience and "talent", but they're far from it. More proof that the Fluke Five years were just an aberration.

[Tbone]

As long as the recruiting discussion is being thrown around, I've got to take the opportunity to bash the NCAA again. Do those paper police need a map to find the state of Ohio? I guess we should not be surprised after Clarett was swept under the rug.

Thad Matta, has never won anything in his life and took over a scandal ridden program that had done nothing in over a decade yet miraculously managed to sign top recruiting classes in '06, '07 and as a foregone conclusion '08. That's already 14 bluechip kids over a 3 yr period and the '08 class is not complete yet.

As much as I dislike John L., I have to agree where there is smoke there is fire and the smoke signals from Columbus are saying, "We are above the law". Of course the NCAA is still making billions so what do they care.

[Big Sean T.]

I agree (Tbone) it does seem shady!