Michigan State University Basketball Blog

The MSU Spartans will face the Temple Owls (21-12) in the First Round of the NCAA South Region this Thursday at 12:30 Eastern time. However, the game is being played in Denver. Go figure eh!?

It is anticipated that hundreds if not thousands of MSU fans will be at the Pepsi Center in Denver. I can tell you that it is a world-class arena and there are as many as 4,000 alumni in the Denver region. It is literally MSU-West to say the least.

For more information on the Owls, click here.

http://owlsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/tem-m-baskbl-body.html

If the Spartans can manage to beat the Owls, they will likely face the hottest team in the nation–the Pitt Panthers. Stay tuned. This is one tough bracket.

After being up as many as 10 late in the game, the Spartans did it again–they choked.  Final score Wisconsin 65 MSU 63.  MSU is now at the mercy of the NCAA comittee, and will likely get a 6-7 seed in the tournament.  If they had held on and beaten Wisconsin, and moved forward to beat either Illinois or Minnesota tomorrow, the story would have been much better–a 4 to 5 seed.  Nevertheless, this season is all about honoring Drew Neitzel and winning one or two NCAA games for him!  go Green!

Senior Drew Neitzel pumped in 28 points as the Spartans (25-7) pulled out a victory late against Ohio State–the same team that caused Sparty to wilt like wuss-bags last Sunday in Columbus. Props go to Drew and Travis Walton, who hit some big time free-throws to seal the deal. It’s good to know that MSU will no longer play any road games–all neutral. But next game is against mighty Wisconsin (1:40 Est CBS) who destroyed Michigan today. Stay tuned! go Green!

In the final game at Breslin for the Drews–Neitzel and Naymick, the Spartans began the game on fire, and continued until the final buzzer, destroying Indiana 103 to 74.   From the opening tip, the Spartans looked possessed and ran up and down the court like there was no tomorrow.  To me, it has been utterly amazing to see MSU play at home where they literally were unbeatable (18-0), and then go on the road and look like a very average .500 club at best.  I guess it is true that there is nothing better than home cooking.

Raymar Morgan led all scorers with 20 points for Green, but Goran Suton and Drew Neitzel scored 17 each and looked very smooth.  But the smoothest of them all was Motown’s own Kalin Lucas.  Kalin scored 14 while dishing out 7.  He best move in his career was displayed to national TV.  As he drove to the hoop with an IU man on him, he faked a pass with his right arm, leaving the dude’s jock on the court, and he then proceeded to lay in a silky smooth lay-up with his left hand.  MSU fans better enjoy Kalin while he lasts.  I can’t imagine him staying beyond next season, but maybe we’ll get lucky and have him for three.

With the win, MSU improve to 23-6, 11-5 in the Big Ten, but still in 4th place.  Sparty travels to Illinois on Thursday and then off to Columbs to face Ohio State on Sunday.  With the way MSU has been playing on the road, who knows what’s going to happen!

We’ll get a good summary of this very imporant game.  MSU needs a quality win in preparation for a decent seed in the NCAA tournmament.