Another one for the vault

One year ago, MSU took out a talented, trash-talking bunch with a big edge in crowd support in the Elite Eight.

    Eleven years ago, in this same building in St. Louis, MSU came back to beat defending national champ Kentucky, despite an overwhelming Big Blue presence -- for Tom Izzo's first Final Four. When you look back over the years, the Elite Eight games have been some of the most memorable.

    The 2009 Louisville victory ranks up there on the list of best Izzo wins. Same with the 1999 win over Kentucky. MSU-Iowa State in 2000. A classic. The true national title game. MSU-Kentucky in 2005. A classic. The best basketball game I covered before last week's Maryland game. And no one will forget David Thomas' heroics to beat Temple in 2001, or how close No. 7 seed MSU made it against No. 1 seed Texas in San Antonio in 2003.

    That's Izzo's only regional final loss in six tries. I don't think he gets a second today.

    For one thing, this team has jelled and located more consistent elements in this tournament than it had in the regular season. And while Tennessee is very talented, with a lot of size, the Vols (who were to spend a relaxing Saturday night out for barbecue, according to Bruce Pearl) guard with athleticism, not with the attention to detail that always makes such a difference for MSU at this time of year.

    As long as the Spartans aren't turning it over, they'll get shots. Great shots. Will they hit them? Maybe the legs are getting rubbery. Maybe the injuries will be too much to overcome, especially with Roe and Allen on short turnarounds. But I think the Summers-Morgan-Green trio, with Lucious staying steady at the point, will have enough answers today in a close -- and memorable -- game.