Badgered

I wonder how many times that headline has been used after MSU-Wisconsin games over the past few years. The Spartans pretty much lost the game in the first four minutes tonight. Coming back from double digits against the Wisconsin basketball team is kind of like coming back from double digits against the Wisconsin football team. Doesn't happen much.

Tom Izzo was rather upset in his postgame presser, mostly at questions about whether he feels safe about an NCAA Tournament bid -- he's not a big fan of that question at this point -- and he got a little emotional when discussing the officiating. Raymar Morgan fouling out like that, for the second straight time against Wisconsin, was doom combined with Drew Neitzel's off night.

My take is, there were some bad calls at MSU's expense. But Wisconsin flat-out won this game. Tonight showed why I think the Badgers are a very viable Final Four contender.

As for MSU, it'll probably be an 8-9-10 seed on Sunday. The Spartans did some good things tonight (18 assists, 11 turnovers, including 15 to 1 for Neitzel and Travis Walton; nine points and seven boards for Marquise Gray in his best game in more than a month; eight points and five boards for Drew Naymick before he fouled out in 20 minutes; first-half offensive assertiveness from Suton; Morgan playing well in his 24 minutes).

But the Spartans got beat on the boards and beat up defensively like they haven't in a long time. Wisconsin came up with some new tricks offensively and came out determined to dribble drive much more than in the first two meetings. It worked. But you know what? MSU has to be tired physically and emotionally after a month of high-pressure, high-level games, so Saturday and Sunday to rest is probably a good thing for this team.

Comments

[Dave]

It all comes down to balance. Until State can put legitimate scorers and playmakers at three or more positions, talented teams will be able to take away Neitzel for a fraction of the energy it takes to get him loose. Plus we're fighting a deficit at the FT line, because so few of our guys can attack the defense and create a disadvantage. It's not the ref's job to bail out guys who probably couldn't score if the defender just stood there.

Hopefully this will change next year with an infusion of talent to match our moxie. If that happens I think we'll be hearing less from Wisky fans for some time to come.