Posted on Tue, Mar 1, 2011 : 7:05 a.m.
Plenty on line in Michigan-Michigan State men's basketball game Saturday; former U-M guard Stephen Schilling reconnects with ex-teammate and more
By Kaleb Roedel
The Michigan and Michigan State men's basketball teams, both on the NCAA Tournament bubble, square
off at Crisler Arena on Saturday. The Wolverines handed the
Spartans a home loss in their first meeting.
Bill Simonson, who writes The Huge Show Blog for MLive.com, thinks this is the biggest game MSU coach Tom Izzo has ever coached against the Wolverines.
Writes Simonson, "No way (Tom) Izzo can sleep during the offseason if he loses twice to the Wolverines and has to hear about a young, aggressive and talented Michigan team that will be one of the favorites to win the Big Ten next year."
MORE MEN'S BASKETBALL
- AnnArbor.com: Michigan rides hot streak into final week of Big Ten chaos
- AnnArbor.com: Tim Hardaway Jr. wins third consecutive freshman of the week award
- AnnArbor.com: Former U-M star Cazzie Russell named to college basketball HOF
- Detroit Free Press: ESPN bracketology has U-M, MSU, Oakland in NCAA tourney
- Grand Rapids Press: MSU needs wins vs. U-M, Iowa to keep NCAA streak alive
- Orlando Sentinel: NCAA Tournament picture clearing, but some teams still on bubble
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- AnnArbor.com: Michigan QB Denard Robinson recently a Jeopardy answer
- AnnArbor.com: Back-to-back bruisers appear on Eastern Michigan's 2011 schedule
- Detroit News: Former U-M guard Stephen Schilling, ex-teammate reconnect
- ESPN.com: Purdue WR Kevin Smith denied sixth year of eligibilty
- ESPN.com: QB Rob Bolden still uncertain about future at Penn State
- Rivals.com: Auburn dismisses RB Eric Smith from the team
- USA Today: Chris Carter signs with Ohio State after arrest before signing day
- USA Today: Auburn task force has hope Toomer's Corner trees can survive
Comments
rensational
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.
So, the Michigan-MSU bball article comes off as saying that if MSU loses this game, MSU will be finished...but if Michigan loses, Michigan's not finished. Look, I think the game/win is more important for Michigan than MSU. If Michigan loses, Michigan will be 8-10 in the Big Ten with no truly impressive wins and needing to make a run in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan make a run in the Big Ten tournament? Under Beilein (i.e. "beat 10-seed Iowa every year and then lose" Beilein)? And the same team that hasn't beaten any of the truly better teams it has faced? Yeah, good luck. If WE lose, WE'RE going to the NIT. Michigan State and beloved Izzo, left out of the NCAAs? Get real. They can lose this game and probably break even in the Big Ten, probably win the first Big Ten tournament game...more likely for them to make a run in the tournament than for Michigan. Heck, people were saying they would make the NCAAs even while they were on what was essentially a horrifying losing streak (i.e. that period of time in which we beat them). I would love to see Michigan in and Michigan State out, but...we're either both getting in or Michigan's going to be the one out in the cold.
timeatwork
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
sport conversations are always much better when they include rational thought. good points. we'll save the jabs for saturday morning.
tater
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
For once, I agree with Huge. But it will be a moot point when Tom Gores offers Izzo the Pistons' job in his first act as the new owner. Michigan is on the way up, and MSU is on the way down. A victory by Michigan could accelerate the process a lot, but it is inevitable anyway. Izzo has had a good run at Michigan's expense by taking advantage of the Ed Martin Fiasco to lock instate recruiting. But now he is having to work harder for those recruits, and we are seeing how "great" of a basketball coach Tom Izzo is when he has a semi-talented team that no longer trusts him not to abandon them. MSU will have no problem focusing against Michigan. They will play their best game of the year, because their hatred of Michigan is stronger than their distrust of Izzo. I expect a close game. Maybe Michigan could be on the winning end of one of those buzzer-beaters for once. I would love to see Michigan win by one on a desperation half-court heave with a tenth of a second left on the clock. Imagine seeing that highlight all off-season.
Theo212
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
State is planning its strategy right now, over a potluck breakfast. rather hallers 61 Leaders and Best 68