Seven Sweet Sixteens, 11 years

Quite a feat. Is there a better backcourt in the NCAA Tournament right now than Kalin Lucas/Drew Neitzel? They're both playing well individually, but they're also setting each other up to succeed. Not the case in, say, January.

    Here's a question for you MSU fans to ponder: If you had the choice, would you rather take the existing scenario, or a Big Ten regular season title and a first-weekend exit from the NCAA Tournament?

       In my opinion, it should be an easy choice. National prominence trumps Big Ten prominence, and no one in the nation remembers who won the Big Ten this year. I have no idea who won the other major leagues' regular season titles.
    That's not to say those championships aren't important. That's not to say MSU should quit trying to win the Big Ten, and it's not to say fans shouldn't be disappointed with a seven-year drought.
    What I am saying is, a Sweet Sixteen has more value in a lot of ways. The Spartans are one of 16 teams left playing relevant basketball. And there's nothing in sports like the NCAA Tournament.

Comments

[DJ Wonderbread]

National exposure helps recruiting. Having a tradition-rich program, and a zillion dollar practice facility only adds to it. (if you've ever been inside the war room, it's a treat. one of the bonuses of being a resident assistant in wonders!)

Hanging a Big Ten Championship banner would've been nice. I think this helps us better in the long run though.

[Kevin]

I sat waiting and waiting for CBS to do a final "recap" of the MSU game where all of their analysts had picked Pitt... They decided to just end the broadcast and get some sleep instead of eating their words.

I want to know who Coach Knight is picking now that we knocked off his pick for National Champion.

And yes, I agree with you Joe that the Sweet Sixteen is very important. I WANT that Big Ten Championship, but not at the expense of this run... not tonight, at least.

[SpartyOn]

Not loving the hypothetical question, joe... the big ten season is over and done with. Next year Izzo will put all his focus on winning the big ten just like every year; then when the tourney comes around again THAT will become the focus. In other words, the most important game of the season is always the one you're playing right now.

Interesting match-up tomorrow with the other MSU, mississippi state, taking on Chris Douglas-Roberts "CD-R" and Memphis. Don't know how that kid escaped Izzo's recruiting grasp.

[Duffy Perles]

Go Spartans, Go Badgers!

[Fred]

I'm happy to see Neitzel go out with another Sweet 16 season, at least. The team is playing confidently, and if it they did it in 2005, they can do it again this year, too.

One question: there was a sequence with three minutes left in the first half, which illustrates State's problems with the officiating. An MSU guard dribbles and penetrates; he's get hip-checked at the elbow of the key, but there's no call. An MSU forward gets the rebound, and he's slammed into on the side in the process; no foul call on Pitt. And then, the Pitt player reaches in, slaps the forearm of the MSU forward who just got the rebound. Instead of a foul call, the official signals jump ball.

That sequence right there, where Pitt players made three straight textbook fouls but didn't get called for any of them, makes me wonder what these officials are watching. I'm sitting courtside, and I can see it all happen. Absolutely terrible officiating -- it's as if the officials are programmed to ignore the abuse the Spartans absorb.

[SpartyOn]

F the badgers

[spartanforever]

ONE GAME AT A TIME...

[JMoist]

Izzo is ready for another run of final fours... look at what we have and what we are getting, MSU is elite!

[Skiny]

Bobby Knights office bracket just got crushed!! wish he was in mine, i'd love his $$$

[griff325]

WOW NO WAY YESS!! OMG MEMPHIS IS TOAST!!!! Yea I really think we had a better shot at beating memphis over PITT, although I knew PITT was kinda overrated, wow just wow I AM SO PROUD!! We got an at least elite 8 with another texas matchup possibly?

[John Sheldon]

Winning the Big Ten is nearly as impressive as winning your division in the NBA. Besides, if Izzo won every Big Ten title, these yahoos would just find some other nonsense to complain about.

Spartan Hoops flippin' rule. We owe everything to Tom Izzo. He's driving himself crazy, but man, he knows how to win. Hats off to the team and to Joe Rex for the solid coverage. Kudos, sir.

[Hey. Don't Step on the 'S'! (aka Cmoney)]

Joe-

I agree 100%-- Dr.I=so money. Good Job today boyz, but I was worried. Now I get to have another fun week and the media can shove their words up their arse.

[Newman]

From a Pittsburgh paper: "They played good defense," Pitt junior forward Sam Young said. "I credit their coach. They had a good scheme." That would be ol' washed up Tom Izzo, our dinosaur coach, -- you know, the guy who's letting the game pass him by.

Go Green. Death to Wisconsin.

[Bob]

Wow,7 sweet sixteens in 11 years!
Name all the other schools that have accomplished that. I guarantee you would consider all of them elite.

[James Wippel]

Great wins this weekend boys! As I said DNice would go off and not let his career go down after the Temple game. Good article from Andy Katz at ESPN, he is a true Spartan believer, always has been...always will. :)

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney08/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3307527

My brackets are looking better than ever with Xavier + WVA moving. Did anyone really have DickeyDikeDuke moving on to the S16? BARF! They have been performing poorly in the T since their F4 collapse against UCONN '04. Anyone remember that one? I personally loved it.

Joe, I would have to agree the tourney is more important since it is the ultimate goal.
Spartyon, agree with you as well, nice presentation of your point.
Who really believes Knight can predict games? CMON! I would put my bank on Vitale any day of the week. Glad to see Davis, Phelps, and the other non-believers eat their words. State has just as good a chance as anyone to reach the F4. Look at all the close games. Spartyland should enjoy this one.
GO STATE!

[jwhite]

where's all the haters at right now? congrats, in IZZO I trust.

[Skiny]

Don't be too suprised if we don't play Memphis....they haven't won yet.

[markv]

Surprised nobody's giving the love for Suton yet. What a huge game from him. We don't win tonight without Suton.

And a big assist to our Denver Spartan fans. I could hear them on the tv, and i think they gave the team a lift.

[Spartan bAy]

Dear ESPN analysts, how come no one said a single word about MSU tonite? You guys sure talked a lot about Pitt last nite and were so sure that Pitt would win. It's not that hard to admit that MSU was the better team. It's not that hard to be a man and admit that you were wrong.

[mikev]

Exactly the fun game I was hoping for---one that ended with a "W" for State. We gave up the 10 point lead and then built it up again--sweet(16)! I can imagine some Pitt fans having problems with a lot of calls, too. In each game I watched yesterday, there were very questionable calls/no calls. Only two things scared me. The first was in the first half when Walton was the only "ball-handler" in for State. That was a terrible few minutes. Either Neitzel or Lucas needs to be in for support with Travis. The other is Ibok's hands on the offensive end. Real glad to see him getting minutes, tho. Only way to learn. Looking forward to more fun games. FYI--Joe, I remember who won the Big Ten this year.

[queskid]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet because I don't have time to read all of these comments yet. Everyone kept saying how both Neitzel and Morgan had to play stellar and score a lot. Morgan only managed 4 points (same number of fouls as well) and 3 rebounds. We all know Neitzel had the game he needed, plus Lucas and Suton. Hopefully Coach finally imprinted consistency on Suton's brain so we don't need to rely on both Neitzel and Morgan. After the past two games, I think we can rely on 4 guys to score and not just 2, Lucas, Suton, Neitzel, and Morgan. That should make it tough on any defense. Honestly, I like our chances for an Elite Eight. The Final Four will be tough either way. Texas, being at their home away from home, and Stanford, having those two tall drinks who mumble so much I couldn't understand them on the CBS special yesterday. Anyway, I'm just glad to see more players stepping up. Go State, and here's to no Eddie Hightower and/or Billy Packer for our next game(s).
One more thing: Tom Izzo is the MAN.

[Dick Miller]

Been reading this blog all season and have to laugh at some of the inane comments I see. I've been a Spartan since 1956, but you kids take the cake. You've been trashing Izzo all year and suddenly he's God again. Get a life guys, better yet - get some BB smarts!

[tien_3]

SO SWEET AGAIN!!!! Only sixteen teams left and MSU is still playing. Coach IZZO answers all the naysayers emphatically and hopefully once and for all. This Teams heart and toughness were on display for everyone to see.

Props to the cheeseheads for flopping their way to the Sweet Sixteen as well. I hate that team and Bo but they can draw fouls with the best of them.

GO GREEN!!!! GO WHITE!!!!

[buddy j]

Remember it's why the game is played and not because of a coaches record. Coach K, anyone?
Izzo still has a hard time giving credit to Suton, without moving the goalposts for kid. Now, it's toughness, consistency and the new one, energy. Seems like a lot of guys had trouble with consistency all year long but the only one we heard about is Suton.
The team played well enough to win but still made a lot of miscues that Pitt was unable to capitalize on. We were still trying to get to the 1 and 1 with a couple of minutes to play, while Pitt was in the 1 and 1 with 7 minutes and the 2 with about 3 1/2 min. We need to work the ball inside more than we do and get to the line. After 33 games we still can't inbound the ball properly. Plus, we need to clear a side for Lucas and Morgan and beat their people off the dribble. Still too much running around and wasted energy in the offense.
Memphis will be tough, but they could have a mishap with Miss.State. Let's not go beserk over the Pitt win. There's still a long road to hoe.

[jd]

Let's not get giddy. This team was preseason big ten favorite. Wisconsin won the regular season title, the big ten tourney title, and they are still playing in the second weekend. We expected that. We fell short. The expectation were for a final four run as well. Job half done. Journey half complete. Winning two games does not make the season, it takes some of the sting away, but this team is showing what was expected. Don't get complacent, you are where you expected to be, but not where we want to end up. Two more games to go to get there. Stay hungry.