Halftime: Louisville 23, MSU 18

Ah yes, freedom from that grotesque basketball we saw in Columbus on Sunday. A free-flowing, up-and-down display of athleticism and grace. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

    It's halftime, it's ugly and it's trouble for MSU if the Spartans don't figure out a few things on the offensive end. On the defensive end, things are going OK -- it's just that Louisville had hit 7 of 15 from 3. You know, the worst 3-point shooting Louisville team since the line was introduced in 1986. Gorgui Dieng hit his only one of the season in that half, and Jared Swopshire ended the half with his fourth -- on his 21st try. The Cards, by the way, are 1 of 15 inside the 3-point line. Weird.

    Sometimes you just have nights like that. And if Louisville keeps hitting like that, MSU may not be able to do much about it. Still, overall, MSU is doing what it wanted to do on defense. But offensively? Yes, very good defense from the Cards. The press isn't doing much but MSU isn't doing anything to the press. The zone is active and the Spartans are working for everything. But way too many times, the Spartans are opting not to work for it, and putting up ill-advised, off-balance jump shots instead. If that doesn't change, MSU's going home early.