Is this Michigan State's second-best chance to win a title? One writer thinks so

Posted on Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.

Is this Michigan State's second-best chance to win a title? One writer thinks so

By Michael Rothstein

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, left, joins other fans outside the state Capitol on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, in Lansing, Mich., cheering on the the Michigan State Spartans as the team bus drives by on the way to the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis.

AP photo

This isn't the Flintstones in East Lansing this year, but one thing stands out about this year's Michigan State team.

It has a good chance to win the national title. Perhaps, Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal writes, a better shot than almost any of Tom Izzo's other Final Four teams.

Part of Rexrode's reasoning is the Spartans have been here before.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

That CBI Michigan chose not to play in - well, Virginia Commonwealth beat St. Louis for the title last night.

Brendan Prunty of the Newark Star-Ledger breaks down Kevin Willard's hiring at Seton Hall from start to finish.

Fanhouse's Jay Mariotti calls NCAA expansion "a farce" and hypocrisy.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times writes that even Bob Huggins can have fun at the Final Four.

Could Hang Time be back in college hoops? Well, Reggie Theus is interviewing at DePaul.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

After winning the Rose Bowl in January, Ohio State has one focus - winning the national championship.

Steven Threet, the quarterback who signed with Georgia Tech, transferred to Michigan and then ended up at Arizona State, is now competing for the starting job with the Sun Devils.

Michigan State nose tackle Oren Wilson will spend 21 days in jail - and then try to rejoin the Spartans.

Comments

Tom

Fri, Apr 2, 2010 : 1:37 p.m.

Is it possible for Ann Arbor.Com to have a separate link "Big Ten Sports" Where articles about Ohio State and Michigan State can be found more easily?

JimB

Fri, Apr 2, 2010 : 12:18 a.m.

I would like to see more coverage of U of M sports also, but there is nothing to write about. Especially in the post season. Unless scandal and misery count as feel good stories.

Terry Star21

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 10:37 p.m.

I agree with aarox on not bashing msu basketball, but disagree that this article belongs here in UM Football - even though, it's said we have a lot of msu followers. I applaud Coach Izzo and his team (don't tell anyone I have been rooting for them) I hope they win it all, remember - it still is the State of Michigan, and people all over the US reconize this. Now on the other side msu fans (don't get me started), about 85% of them are just horrible... I can't even be in the same room or even stadium and hear them talk. So me think, if you want UM Football (this site) to respect msu basketball more, show us some class. Coach Izzo, Team - congratulations...............msu basketball fans - want respect, show some class.

aarox

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 9:57 p.m.

Shame on us for grousing at MSU's success. When we were where they are at now (and they were where we are now) we took them for fools for grousing at us. Let's grow up and demonstrate the integrity and Respect that makes us UM fans!

bleedblue

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 8:51 p.m.

They can only win if it's a crappy final four in 2000 there was two eight seeds and a five seed in the final four.They can't win a big game against good teams they beat a 12, 9, 4, and a 6 seed-They're not good they're lucky that other teams beat teams they would lose by 20 against.Izzo's over-rated six final four one title that title was in the worst final four ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wersch213

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.

No other sport celebrates making the top 4 each season other than college basketball. Congratulations sparty, you lucked your way into a final four. Talk about a cupcake road to Indianapolis, no Syracuse, Kansas, or OSU to play...Christmas came early this year for sure. Maybe for the sake of the Big 10 you can actually close the deal this year. Probably not since you've only had 1 national championship under Izzo, so Izzo is in the same company as Lloyd Carr. Enjoy just making the final four since that's all sparty cares about...should be winning championships but we all know sparty relishes coming in 2nd place. GO BUTLER!

goblue041

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.

I've held my tongue for too long - why is this grouped with the U of Michigan Football news? I sure don't want to read anything about MSU, especially basketball. I click on the UM Football news and that is what I expect to find. When you include something about NASCAR I will be gone forever.

a2miguy

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 11:21 a.m.

Please stop headlining Michigan State on this site. Wasn't the online replacement for Ann Arbor News supposed to focus on LOCAL news? You never cover Red Wings, Pistons, etc. (which is fine within what your mission was alleged to be). Michigan State is less local than any of the Detroit teams. Hell, Toledo is closer to Ann Arbor, but you don't cover their sports. Why so much garbage about Michigan State??? Do you really think MSU fans living in Ann Arbor come to THIS site to read about their teams???? PLEASE STOP.

voiceofreason

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 10:44 a.m.

Well, there goes any chance they had of winning.

OSUbeBeter

Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 10:18 a.m.

With Granholm backing the sparties, its a cant miss. Michigan is a much beter state then ohio. first i like michigan, followd by msu. ohio state is no good