updated 4:37 p.m.: Michigan State familiar with Cinderella in NCAA basketball tournament; plus more links

Uh, Vanderbilt didn't play Robert Morris....don't understand the heading... ???

There ya go.

As one might expect, with the nice weather upon us, Theo has been splitting his time between golfing at exclusive country clubs and attending only the most lavish NCAA Tournament parties. And of course, he is leading in all his bracket groups. He correctly nailed the Murray State and Ohio upsets.

Theo, I talked to Tater yesterday... and we'll be using Musberger's golf cart for our outing this weekend.

Sad to see Minny "bow out" after a CBS sports blogger started a rumor that has Tubby Smith going to Auburn. I wonder what his bosses at CBS think about this?

Good to see Purdue get past one game, but I don't see them going very far without Hummel. He was their best "glue guy:" a PITA you hate to play against but love having on your team.

Add in a very possible MSU early exit, and it isn't looking all that great for the Big Ten this year. Hopefully, a bad performance won't affect the number of bids the Big Ten gets next year when UM finds a way to get the ball in the hoop again.

Sad to see schools like Butler make the sweet 16 and Michigan can not even make the NIT. Not pretty. Of course I am sure all of those small mid majors have vast fancy multi-billion dollar facilities that just land recruits like flies to fly paper. One day we will have the facilities to do the same. I am sure that is the problem.

K, i was gonna parallel between this game and App St. and Michigan, once mighty collegiate teams falling to supposed cupcakes. But geuss this is facebook.

Sorta like groundhog day, MSU saw their shadow and now we are going to get at least five more days of Spartybragging. Never have so many bragged so much about so little as in EL.

Where is the Blue, Tater? Talk about so little to brag about! Sparty is right where they belong, without their best player. It hurts, I know, but face it. UM no longer rains supreme in the state.

Dear Tater,

I know that you are a good Michigan Man. However, I have watched other great Michigan Men -- such as Coach Bo. I don't remember that Bo was openly critical of of the other Big Ten teams.

You need to grow up. We are a Big Ten team and normally we are going to pull for our conference.

You never ending critical cheap shots make UM look bad, and should be above that.

Hmm...we need a poll...how many Michigan fans are rooting for MSU in basketball?...5 percent maybe?...10 percent?...This malarky about rooting for Big Ten teams just because they are in the Big Ten is hogwash....My two favorite teams are Michigan and anyone playing Michigan State or Ohio State...

Watch the replay on YouTube. the potluckers never should have gotten the shot off. Timekeeper starts the clock 1.5 to 2 seconds late!!

Oh well. Their upcoming loss to N. Iowa will more than make up for everything they got away with this year.

Surely you aren't serious, Theo212. Wolverine fans: do you feel proud that you have such an upstanding representative of your fan base on here?

It is silly for people to diminish the accomplishments of MSU.

What they have done in bb in the last decade is an amazing accomplishment.

Nothing like getting a HUGE spartan win, as well as humiliating the psycho pspudster in florida...!

Potluck celebrations are breaking out all across E. Lansing.

what a shame Michigan sits in basketball like football and watches the arch rivals excel. I suspect it will be the same again next year in both basketball and football

Go Green--Go White !!!

Prediction: The Michigan State basketball season will end tonight, leaving Michigan Hockey as the main focal point.

So wrong VoiceOfReason,

Go Green--Go White, on to the Elite Eight, Izzo is a whizzo !!

"If you spend all your time looking back over your shoulder, you'll keep bumping into things." -- ME

That used to be my impression of the average Michigan fan. No longer. To look back, you need to be in the lead. That certainly isn't the case now, is it?

While it's possible that MSU will go all the way (Go Green!), it's unlikely. At some point, their season will end. And at that time, predictably, all the schadenfroh Michigan people here will start hooting like gibbons. It's been interesting to see what happens to the "basking in reflected glory" crowd does when their bandwagon gets a flat. I thought you might try to find some other bandwagon to jump on. In hindsight, it seems kind of silly to have even considered the possibility.

And I still think the phrase, "At least we still have hockey" should be worked into the Michigan fight song.

With WVA upsetting Kentucky and posting yet another great basketball season after their coach left for UM, there is something else going on at WVA. Apparently, it's not only the head coach that makes them successful. And it's also no coincidence that the WVA football team has had remarkable success after its coach left for UM. There are clearly other success factors at work there.

Watching MSU vs Tenn and down the stretch, Tenn far too strong for MSU. Superior athletes in better shape. Tenn will win.

MSU! Final Four, Baby!

All you sour grapers with your puerile predictions can cut yourselves a big, steaming slice of humble pie. :)

Where is your coverage of the MSU game over Tenn? Sour grapes, Annarbor.com! @Voiceofreason-you had it backwards-MSU wins and UM hockey gags again! I know that's probably what you meant to write. Victory for MSU!