The Enlightened Spartan

God forbid... #Hashtags on the football field??? What a disaster! Outlaw it!

2013-05-23T15:03:00.001-04:00

Boy, is this stupid. Eliminating hashtags on a football field? Whatever for? The NCAA Rules Committee rule states: "All other items, including social media designations such as URL’s and hashtags, are prohibited."

I guess the reason is that it can be viewed as advertising for Twitter. This won't last, because you can't legislate behavior and people's willingness to use the most current technology. Funny: the NCAA will allow institutions to post the NCAA logo, school logos, facility name, and corporate sponsorships... but not #NCAA or ncaa.org. Someone from Twitter must have pissed off Mark Emmert.

It doesn't fit the edge of the Big Ten and social media... look here.

I think the Spartans should officially change their Name and Logo: "Michigan State #Spartans"

Man, the NCAA is logically unaware of the social norms. Love the post by Zac Ellis at SI.com: "#dumb."

MSU in 2014, 2015, 2016+.... the good, the bad, and the ugly

2013-05-18T11:41:00.001-04:00

OK, so the Big Ten announced its expanded schedules for 2014 and 2015, with the addition of Rutgers and Nebraska. Below is the Spartans’ schedule those two years, and a sneak-peak at non-conference games in upcoming years.

2014

Aug. 30 JACKSONVILLE STATE

Sept. 13 at Oregon

Sept. 20 WYOMING

Sept. 27 EASTERN MICHIGAN

Oct. 4 NEBRASKA

Oct. 11 at Purdue

Oct. 18 at Indiana

Oct. 25 MICHIGAN

Nov. 8 OHIO STATE

Nov. 15 at Maryland

Nov. 22 RUTGERS

Nov. 29 at Penn State

2015

Sept. 12 OREGON

Sept. 19 at Western Michigan

Sept. 26 CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Oct. 3 at Nebraska

Oct. 10 PURDUE

Oct. 17 INDIANA

Oct. 24 at Michigan

Nov. 7 at Ohio State

Nov. 14 MARYLAND

Nov. 21 at Rutgers

Nov. 28 PENN STATE

What does this say for 2014 and 2015? Love MSU hosting Michigan back-to-back in 2013 and 2014, especially with Dantonio making the Spartans no longer a push over in the series... with the Doctor going 4-2 against scUM.

More interestingly….

The good

2014 makes for a great schedule for MSU. In the Big Ten, MSU gets Nebraska, Ohio State, and Michigan at home. Love the addition of Maryland and Rutgers in the Big Ten East division to the Spartans’ schedule which helps give the Big Green a breather. If MSU is going to make a run for the title game, it’s gonna need to be in 2014 – potentially a Connor Cook senior year at QB. But, in 2015…

The bad

The ’15 schedule is a flip of the ’14 schedule, playing at Nebraska, Ohio State, and Michigan is a murderer’s row. Further, playing at Oregon will be nothing short of an arse whipping. It will help the Spartans’ strength of schedule, but the ES was lucky enough to travel to Eugene the last two times MSU played at Oregon: a 48-14 whipping in 1999, and a 35-7 shellacking in 1980. Expect the same at Autzen Stadium in 2014. Argh. At least we get them at home in 2015… speaking of which…

The ugly

Other than the opening game vs Oregon in 2015, why bother purchasing tickets? CMU, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, and Penn State round out an ugly schedule. Only 11 games are on the schedule, so there is an open date the first week of September… expect MSU to fill that game somehow, someway. Hopefully against a quality BCS opponent.

Jacksonville State and Wyoming in 2014…. in the Sagarin final 2012 rankings, Jacksonville State finished #133 out of 246 Division I football teams; Wyoming wasn’t much better at #121 (MSU finished #34). On its website, MSU has adding Furman in 2016 (below) - which is also very ugly. But, with the Big Ten going to nine conference games beginning in 2016, its' the ES bet that game will be dropped for a Big Ten opponent (Northwestern or Minnesota)… see a sneak peek of future opponents below.

2016

Sept. 3 at Alabama

Sept. 10 EASTERN MICHIGAN

Sept. 17 FURMAN

Sept. 24 NOTRE DAME

2017 ALABAMA, vs WMU
2018 vs. Notre Dame, vs CMU
2019 vs. Notre Dame, vs WMU

2020 vs. Miami-Florida, at EMU

2021 vs Miami-Florida

2022 vs. Boise State, vs. Notre Dame

2023 vs. Boise State, vs. Notre Dame

Prime Time BTN = Anything BUT Prime

2013-05-06T23:54:00.002-04:00

OK, so the Big Ten Network is promoting its "Prime Time" matchup football schedule this fall, including a Friday, Aug 30, welcome of Western Michigan to Michigan State.

A fairly pathetic schedule to promote. Really, what is interesting? Maybe BTN will be lucky to capture a Thunderstorm or Tornado in the Cowboys' 10-hour, 700-mile drive from Cheyenne to Lincoln. Syracuse at Northwestern - maybe a 2-hour video of a student rendition of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Vegas at Minny? Hopefully it snows in August in Minneapolis. Indiana State at Indiana? Godforbid, the Hoosiers best shot is if Larry Bird stays retired, football, basketball, whatever.

Good grief. Save the press release, but enjoy Big Ten football!

BTN PRIMETIME SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Thursday, August 29

7 PM – UNLV at Minnesota

Friday, August 30

8 PM – Western Michigan at Michigan State

Saturday, August 31

8 PM – Wyoming at Nebraska

Saturday, September 7

6 PM – Syracuse at Northwestern
6 PM – Southern Miss at Nebraska

Saturday, September 14

6 PM – UCF at Penn State
6 PM – Washington vs. Illinois (at Soldier Field)
9 PM – Western Michigan at Northwestern

Saturday, September 21

8 PM – Missouri at Indiana

Saturday, October 19

8 PM – Wisconsin at Illinois

REGIONAL COVERAGE

Thursday, Aug. 29

7 PM – Indiana State at Indiana

Saturday, September 7

6 PM – Navy at Indiana

BCS title is now officially FBSBCSCFP

2013-04-23T23:21:00.001-04:00

OK, so now it is the NCAA Division I-FBS-BCS-CFP. Bowl Championship Series "College Football Playoff" is the new name for the 2014 college football championship at the highest level of NCAA competition.

Even BCS was simpler. So, just remember, it is not "college football title game", rather it is FBSBCSCFP.

It was so much simpler as Division I-A.

Connor Cook excels in Spring game; looks to start in Fall

2013-04-20T23:56:00.000-04:00

Yes, it snowed today during the Spring football game for Michigan State here in East Lansing. You know what else sucked? Andrew Maxwell. He has not improved one iota since last year. Maxwell looked like the crack of mine arse with very tentative, poor leadership (mind you, the 46-yd TD pass from Maxwell was off a busted defensive play from a 7 yard interior slant). But a very nice crowd... maybe 30,000 in 30 degree weather? Wow. Now, see the stats of the 24-17 White victory.

So, let's get to the QB talk. Connor Cook? Unlike Maxwell, Cook actually used his eyes, looking further than 5 yards down the field, throwing countless passes (most incomplete) along the sidelines on timing patterns. But, Cook threw some very sharp passes, including a nifty 22-yard TD to Arnett in the 3rd stanza. Cook looked better than serviceable - he has improved. He was determined more often than Maxwell. Our third choice, Tyler O'Connor, threw three interceptions, all were on very poor reads with worse passes. At halftime, Cook at 200+ yards passing. Maxwell had 18. Yes, 18 yards from Maxwell threw the air. The problem? Maxwell can't make decisions. Period. He is just flat incapable of getting it done.

Today, if the ES were going to layout the QB depth chart for the fall: #1 Cook, #2 Maxwell, #3 O'Connor.

MOST IMPRESSIVE PLAYER IN SPRING GAME?
Riley Bullough at fullback. There was one play when Bullough darted around left end, used his stiff arm, and ran for another 20 yards. That dude has the Bullough-family trademark of toughness and he really, really played well.

WHO CAN WE SPARTANS COUNT ON IN THE FALL?
Max Bullough at LB was his usual stud-self. Loved his bro at FB/TB. Arnett and Fowler were most consistent at WR. Marcus Rush played well at LB/DE. And, Cook at QB for sure. The defense is far ahead of the offense so far. Final score in this game was 24-17... Of 5 TDs, 3 were scored by the defense.

CONCERNS?
Maxwell. WR Burbridge & Mumphrey both dropped passes and had fumbles. DT Lawrence Thomas (pushed back off the line too often with slow feet, he needs to lose some weight). Big ole #77 in Green, Henry Conway (6'6, 320).... is he just too big? He has GOT to move his feet faster.

Spartan Spring Game with Snow!

2013-04-20T13:59:00.000-04:00

OK, so the Spartan Spring football game is today, at about 2:35 pm ET. It will be broadcast on BTN. There is no admission, so come on over.... if...

IF you want to dodge the snow flurries. Yes, here it is, April 20, and it snowed about 1/2 inch last night here in EL. Right now, half an hour (2 pm ET) before kickoff, and it is 35 degrees here in EL. Brutally cold. Most of the snow melted around here by noon. But, it still is too damn cold.

The ES may go over and see Big Bob if he can break away... but if not, no big deal. It will be a lot warmer on television. The worst spring EVER here in East Lansing.

Peanut Barrel... yum yum Go Green

2013-03-29T20:26:00.002-04:00

ES will be with Big Bob, watching MSU v Duke at the center of the world - which is the Peanut Barrel. ETA about 9 pm. See ya there! Go GREEN!

Time for MSU to be an elite. Beat Duke!

2013-03-29T16:59:00.000-04:00

GO BIG GREEN! Step up and deliver the knockout blow to the Dukies, as 95% of the country is asking us to do!!!

This is an opportunity for another "program" statement. OK, Tom Izzo has built an elite program... but one need this Michigan State has NOT completed is a defeat of Duke repeatedly, and repeatedly in an arena to take a step to the Promised Land. This is the opportunity. Michigan State can permanently stamp itself as the elite of the elite.

GO SPARTANS, BEAT THE DEVIL OUT OF THE DEVILS! God, I hate Duke.

Big Ten musings: B1G & Baseball don’t fit; Delusional Delaney

2013-03-26T17:22:00.003-04:00

Three items surfaced recently in the media with relation to the Big Ten. One item, that Michigan State would be in the East division when Maryland and Rutgers join in 2014; second, that B1G baseball should start later because of the weather; and, the other item, is the recent article in Sports Illustrated with interesting comments by Commissioner Jim Delany. Let's get into football divisions first.

MSU in the East

So, if Michigan State were to join an East division as has been recently reported, their climb to the Big Ten championship game in football every year would likely need to include two victories against division foes Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State in addition to wins over bottom feeders Maryland, Rutgers, and Indiana. So, out of the six divisional opponents each year, it seems reasonable that it will take five victories in the “three yards and a cloud of dust” division to be in contention. With nine conference games every year, that leaves three games against opponents from the Western division; winning at least two of those would lead to a 7-2 conference record, which seems to be a reasonable minimum to advance to the conference championship game.

Now, the Big Ten has also agreed to eliminate scheduling of patsies, like Appalachian State, Youngstown State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, or other Division I–FCS football programs. This is a good thing, in that the strength of schedule for the Big Ten and particularly for Big Ten East division members, should be strong enough for the Big Ten championship game winner out of the East division to also be considered for the new BCS football playoff. In other words, an 11-2 Michigan State Big Ten championship team with division wins over Michigan, Penn State, and other conference wins against Wisconsin or Nebraska, and nonconference wins against future opponents Notre Dame, West Virginia, and/or another strong BCS qualifying institution will be received favorably by a playoff selection committee. Of course, this means that the Spartans need to clean house in the conference with maybe an occasional loss at Ohio State, at Wisconsin, or at Nebraska… But the nonconference games need to be victories for the most part, with the exception of maybe playing at Alabama or at Oregon -- these strong national title contending institutions will add to the value of the Spartans resume even with a loss. I think we all know, however, that the road to the Big Ten championship will go through Columbus and that's a tough task indeed.

Tim Stout and Big Ten baseball

The Dean of mid-Michigan sports, Tim Stout of WILX-TV, recently wrote in the Lansing State Journal that if the Big Ten is going to expand baseball stadiums, institutions should consider moving its baseball calendar a month or so later because of the poor weather in March/April in Big Ten country. He specifically noted how Wisconsin does not have a baseball team. Let's be honest, Wisconsin here is the only smart institution with respect to understanding what it can provide as reasonable opportunities for sport participation in the area. We can't looking at this through a competitive lens as opposed to understanding who it is that is participating. Big Ten baseball players are college students; most colleges are on semester systems, which would mean shifting the calendar would impact athletes across two semesters (or more, as some baseball manages to fit in exhibition in the fall) and into the dog days of summer. Already, college students are being asked enough with respect to time management and progress to graduation…. The ES just doesn't buy the fact that shifting the calendar would not have a detrimental impact more so than is already the case on these players. So his point of "lack of common sense" of the current calendar or plowing resources into baseball makes sense. Moving the calendar would serve for entertainment purposes, improving attendance at games, and actually may make it a more enjoyable experience for the players. Really, who wants to catch a fly ball between snowflakes anyways? BUT, let's base any principle to make the decision on what's in the best interest to help these college students learn.. and NOT on entertainment and enjoyment of the game. Athletics should be a co-curricular activity, and not the primary activity.

So, I think that Wisconsin actually has it right. I never understood why Michigan State would want to enhance its baseball stadium, when it is already under snow three-fourths of the year. That is a waste of 5 million VERY good dollars that could be used instead for other purposes. If anything, Big Ten schools should eliminate baseball so they can save other sports which are more reasonable to participate over the winter months. My God, it's nearly April and we still have snow on the ground and it's 32° outside… Is there not a sense of reason? Baseball in the North makes as much sense as ice hockey in the South… College athletic programs should not have to be all things to all people, but rather focus on quality instead of quantity. Follow Wisconsin's lead: eliminate baseball and invest in winter sports.

Delusional Delany?

Lots of interesting tidbits coming out of the Big Ten office in the last week. If you are not aware of the Eddie O’Bannon lawsuit, you better be aware now. The lawsuit contends that the NCAA unlawfully used the likeness and image of college athletes in its own marketing efforts, as well as selling those rights to companies without providing just compensation to the athletes. It is complicated when you think of: how Title IX requires institutions to provide equal opportunities to all athletes male and female; that funding and resources be equitable for male and female athletes; how scholarships and other benefits are worth tens of thousands of dollars every year and are tax-free; that athletes would be taxed if they did receive compensation for selling their image for publicity; and, that athletic conferences, colleges, and the NCAA make billions of dollars each year from selling rights to broadcast football and men's basketball on television. Regardless, there are many who believe that O’Bannon has a good case and may likely be victorious (here, here, here, here, etc). When you think of the NCAA budget being about $800 million a year, this case may bankrupt the NCAA if the courts allow it to be certified as class action for athletes going back 50 years. Yes, college sports could change as we know it.

So Jim Delany's comments in Sports Illustrated certainly were interesting if not telling. Delany notes that if the Big Ten is required to pay players or subsidized payment for the lawsuits because players no longer are amateurs but rather need to receive compensation for their success on the field above and beyond his scholarship, that the Big Ten may instead give up Division I sports and become Division III institutions, or follow the idea and not give scholarships. Some see this as Delany blowing steam under the robes of justices to let them know that their decision may be of significant consequence to the current model of college sports; in other words, if justices like watching how their alma mater competes in football or basketball on tv, Delaney muses they may want to think twice about how they will decide in this lawsuit. However others see Delany as being two-faced, in that now he's going to whine and take his ball and go home because he no longer can control how money is being distributed.

Bottom line is, Delaney is giving us lots to think about, and all of you college sports fans out there better start paying attention. Delany is paying attention, but he doesn't seem to have very good answers right now.

B1G Ten = Basketball; ES in the Ca$h?

2013-03-25T13:53:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official. The Big Ten is a basketball conference. Adding the men's and women's tourney, the Big Ten is 16-3 in hoops in the NCAA tournament. The men are 10-3, and the women are 6-0. Thanks to Wisconsin men, the only squad that did not win a tourney game.

ES IN THE $$$$
Give the ES some love. In the Peanut Barrell pool, he's sitting pretty in the money, at 5th out of 60 entries; the top six are in the money... ES has 11 of 16 teams still remaining, but to win the whole deal he will need to root for... GULP... Miami, Duke, and Michigan. Looks like a nice payday, but the ES will certainly be rooting to lose his money, as the hatred for the three runs deep. And, in the ES own pool, he is sitting in second place out of 18 entries, with the top two returning an investment. In the third pool, the ES hasn't earned squat, but that is based on final digits of scores instead of wisdom and proclivity.

Duke favored by 1-1/2 over Michigan State

2013-03-25T09:18:00.002-04:00

First off... don't forget to watch the Spartan women at 7:20 tonight on ESPN2 as they try to defeat Maryland to join the men in the Sweet 16.

Looks like the bookies in Vegas are making Duke an early 1-1/2 pt favorite over Michigan State. Tipoff is 9:45 pm this Friday evening from Indianapolis. Other lines:

Indiana favored by 5-1/2 over Syracuse
Miami favored by 6 over Marquette
Ohio State favored by 4 over Arizona
Wichita State favored by 3-1/2 over LaSalle
Louisville favored by 10 over Oregon
Kansas favored by 2 over Michigan
Florida favored by 12-1/2 over Florida Gulf Coast

Nice to see Charles Barkley swallow his pride and his lunch; Barkley said

the Big Ten was overrated (4 out of 7 teams remain, Big Ten with a '10-3 record so far in the tourney).
Memphis was more athletic than Michigan State (MSU defeated Memphis by 22 points)
the Pac 12 was underrated (Pac 12 is 5-3 so far, with 2 out of 5 teams still standing).

Methinks Sir Charles was better on the court than in the studio... although he certainly is entertaining.

MSU ROLLS: Derrick Nix and the HOT LICKS

2013-03-24T00:10:00.000-04:00

Spartans, What is your profession???!!!! And the Big Green Machine just keeps ROLLING right along...

What a beautiful game by the Michigan State interior, particularly Nix, Payne, and Dawson. This trio DESTROYED Memphis with its athleticism and just flat out great play. This MSU Spartan team passes the eye test as a great team to watch, doing all the little things right. Nix, Payne, and Dawson combined for – get this – 24 rebounds, 5 assists, 8 steals, and 6 blocks. Combined shooting from the three was 12 of 26, a respectable 46%, but it was the dominance on the glass that made the difference.

For any who questions the Spartan dominance in the second half, just look at the box score: the Spartans scored TWICE as many points as Memphis in the second half: 38 to 19. Ouch.

Read this lovely pin-up by ESPN's Michael Rothstein. Nice.

Nix, in all honesty, has turned into an absolute beast for Tom Izzo’s gameplan in this tourney. Derrick Nix, the guy who was fat and couldn’t hit a free throw, is the next edition of Izzo’s great reclamation projects. This guy has grown into the most consistent, dominant force for Michigan State. Every single time he touches the ball, and he WANTS IT EVERY SINGLE TIME the Spartans are on the offensive end of the floor, he either takes a great shot or finds the guy to take the shot. But, even more importantly, on defense, Nix can’t be moved. He is an absolute brick wall of a defense. It brings tears to mine eyes.

Third man of the game? Give Denzel Valentine some credit, he had a pretty good game and he seemed up to the task for most of the game, weaving in and around the Tiger defense all game long, with excellent ball handling and dishing for points. Valentine finished with 9 pts, 6 rebs, 6 assists, and ZERO turnovers.

Turning point: the blow up on the MSU sideline. Nix and Appling were jawing at each other, and Dawson was brokering the concern. Wow. For us watching on tv, Nix was showing more concern and “give-a-shit” at that one moment than he did most of his career. After that sideline demonstration, MSU exploded and crushed Memphis. The intensity on defense was stifling.

The Dukies or the Blue Jays better watch out. Here comes a Big Mean Green!

Spartans favored by 5.5 over Memphis

2013-03-23T01:15:00.000-04:00

Line for Saturday is Michigan State by 5-1/2 over Memphis, and scUM by 3-1/2 over VCU. Gametime is 2:45 pm from Auburn Hills on CBS-TV. I'd let u know about the freaking temperature, but while the game is played inside making it comfortable, its just gonna be winter-cold outside, as it has all March. The groundhog must be quartered, and shot. Promptly.

ES feels a key to the Memphis game will be the bodies, particularly the athleticism of Payne and Dawson with the bulk of Nix. The interior needs to pitch a tent and dominate defensively, negating much of the Tigers' ability to block shots -- something St. Mary's didn't respect.

As for predictions, all the Detroit News pundits predict MSU from 8-15 point victors; WTAE (Pittsburgh) predicts MSU 68-62; Memphis Commercial Appeal has a preview that notes the ability for Memphis guards to dominate the glass... Chicago Tribune notes MSU ability to dictate pace...

GO BIG GREEN MACHINE! SPARTANS... WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION????!!!!!

ES bracket for Midwest

2013-03-20T22:33:00.003-04:00

ES filled out his bracket... and filled one out at the Peanut Barrell, as well! The perfect Midwest bracket is before your eyes:

Region of Doom: Pick Izzo and #3 MSU in the Midwest

2013-03-19T22:22:00.002-04:00

It's March Madness... and the ES has been AWOL for travel across the country the last few days. Sorry for the delayed response, Spartan fans.

But, it was nice to see MSU get a #3 seed in the Midwest, in the "Region of Doom." When you think about how close MSU was in its two losses to Indiana, its loss at Michigan, and its loss to Ohio State in the tourney... well, the Spartans really had NO bad losses and are good enough to make a deep run. We'll see if Gary Harris' potential shoulder issue hampers Michigan State, but the bracket is a good one... let's take care of business in the first stanza, and potentially oust Duke and Louisville to advance to the Final Four. That would be a nice capstone to a great season in an outstanding conference.

Nice to see the Spartans end the regular season polls in the top 10, at #9 - they certainly earned it. And, the ES is enjoying the amount of publicity Tom Izzo and the Spartans are receiving, with Izzo being the dean of B1G coaches and having a great team. Particularly loving this quote: "I'm looking forward to playing anybody [else]," Izzo said. "I'd play the Lakers tomorrow instead of some of the teams I've played recently."

Previews: a Mid-Major preview of MSU vs Valpo here; the Chicago Tribune preview picks MSU as a 72-58 winner. A quick preview from Bracketologyexpert.com is here.

Here is the ESPN preview of the Midwest region. And, Jay Bilas picks MSU to beat Duke, and for Michigan to bow out early. The ES hates Pitino, and everything about him. He is a poor ambassador for college basketball. Thank goodness Kentucky didn't make it - Calipari is just as bad, if not worse. In this tourney, the ES will be rooting for MSU and rooting against Michigan and Louisville.

Can't wait for tipoff -- for once, MSU gets the early game, this Thursday at 12:15 pm against little ole Valparaiso University... with the game right here in the state of Michigan. The Palace will be crazy this weekend with Spartan Green and White.

ES has MSU picked in his bracket to the Final Four, and put down $20 in Vegas for the Spartans to win the whole damn thing. NEVER PICK AGAINST IZZO IN THE TOURNAMENT. Never. And, is the Big Ten for real? We should find out. It was certainly interesting watching college hoops all year, and certainly Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Indiana pass the eyeball test - they've looked GREAT all year long, even as they beat each other up.

Here's the bracket.

Big Green survive vs Iowa, unlike other wannabees

2013-03-16T00:44:00.002-04:00

Unlike Michigan, or Duke, or Georgetown...

Michigan State also played its worst game of the year... but was talented enough -- especially on defense -- to pull out a victory in the Big Ten quarters vs. Iowa. Now, time to bulk up for Ohio State at 4 pm ET tomorrow. The ES is a stalwart believer of this Big Green team and its potential for a deep run in 2013.

In recent weeks, MSU has come close on the road but folded when it mattered most, but not today. The Spartans offensively played their worst game of the year but still found a way to win in the last 5 minutes. Bring on the Buckeyes!

B1G Ten Tourney.... Gholston HOF Cafe Watch Party... Vegas Title Odds

2013-03-14T00:37:00.002-04:00

ES is all jacked up for the B1G Ten Tourney championship. At around 3:30 today, ES was in a meeting with several colleagues today who figured last Sunday a few of us Spartans were pulling for the Wolverines to beat Indiana to get MSU a share of the regular season title. NOT!!!! We SOUNDLY denounced his sacrilege and referred to the new Pope maybe needing to forgive our sins in tone and language. At 3:30, we may have been the first to ask this Pope Francis for forgiveness... but NAHHH.

What is hilarious is the scUMbags get to play an extra game. Thanks, Francis, God is good. ES could care less about the performance of those wearing stupid yellow-glow-in-the-dark blinding uniforms. Bumble-bee uniforms in football, and blinding yellow high-lighters in basketball. They may be great engineers and doctors, but they are color-blind artists in Ann Arbor. We'll still kick their butt and their extra game.

JOIN GHOLSTON AT HOF, FRIDAY, 7:45
As for the tourney, well it shall be fun - the ES will be at the Spartan HOF Cafe with his fam and work colleagues at the Spartan HOF for a Mid-Michigan Spartan Alum watch party. Wanna come out for some brews, food, auction items, and fun while we kick Iowa or Northwestern's bootie? Game time, tipoff is ETA 7:45 pm on Friday, on BTN.

We'll be hangin' with William Gholston if you're interested... Need to contact SRothw@aol.com if interested... GO GREEN!

RPI RATINGS
OK, we'll be throwing some smack at Bracketology all week long if Lunardi doesn't give the Spartans props with at LEAST a #2 seed (and maybe a #1 if they win the B1G tourney?) But real-time RPI ratings, which are significant in determining NCAA tourney qualifications, so far place the Spartans at #9. should be a great week in March, as is always!!!! It is IZZO TIME.
FAVORITES?
Check out VegasInsider.http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/futures/ Spartans are 12-1 to take the title, Michigan is 10-1, and Indiana is 9-2... ES likes our chances, and the $20 he put in the Spartans in Vegas in November. Here are the full lines below:

Indiana	9/2
Duke	5/1
Louisville	6/1
Florida	7/1
Michigan	10/1
Miami, FL	10/1
Gonzaga	10/1
Georgetown	12/1
Michigan State	12/1
Kansas	15/1
Ohio State	20/1
Syracuse	25/1
St. Louis	30/1
New Mexico	30/1
Arizona	40/1
Pittsburgh	40/1
UCLA	50/1
Kansas State	50/1
Oklahoma State	50/1
North Carolina	60/1
Wisconsin	60/1
N.C. State	60/1
Marquette	75/1
VCU	75/1
Minnesota	75/1
Field (any other team)	100/1
Missouri	100/1
Butler	100/1
Kentucky	100/1
Memphis	100/1
UNLV	100/1
Notre Dame	100/1
Colorado State	100/1
Creighton	100/1
Wichita State	200/1
Illinois	200/1
Oregon	200/1
California	200/1
St. Mary's	200/1
San Diego State	200/1
Colorado	200/1
Belmont	200/1
Alabama	300/1
Oklahoma	300/1
Temple	300/1
Villanova	300/1
Davidson	500/1
Arkansas	500/1
Mississippi	500/1
Virginia	500/1
LaSalle	500/1
Iowa State	500/1
Tennessee	500/1
Vanderbilt	500/1
Baylor	500/1
Xavier	500/1
Cincinnati	500/1
Maryland	1000/1
BYU	1000/1
Purdue	1000/1
Seton Hall	1000/1
St. John's	1000/1
West Virginia	1000/1
St. Joseph's	1000/1
Drexel	1000/1
Stanford	1000/1
Southern Miss	1000/1
Mississippi State	1000/1
Providence	1000/1
Oregon State	1000/1
Ohio	1000/1
Northern Iowa	1000/1
Texas A&M	1000/1
South Florida	1000/1
Washington	1000/1
Dayton	1000/1
Clemson	1000/1
Rutgers	1000/1
Texas	1000/1
Florida State	1000/1
Long Beach State	1000/1
Northwestern	1000/1
Iowa	1000/1
Murray State	1000/1
LSU	1000/1
George Mason	1000/1
Marshall	1000/1
Virginia Tech	1000/1
Georgia	1000/1
Harvard	1000/1
Ole Miss	1000/1
Richmond	1000/1
DePaul	1000/1
Utah State	1000/1
Nevada	1000/1
USC	1000/1
South Carolina	1000/1
Georgia Tech	1000/1
St. Bonaventure	1000/1

Spartans crush Badgers: Jud's chooses MSU in Indiana v Michigan matchup

2013-03-08T14:39:00.003-05:00

OK, so Wisconsin had its WORST shooting night in forever, and Appling woke up as Michigan State's men's hoop team smoked Wisconsin by 15 points last night, And Michigan State has an outside shot to a four-way tie for the Big Ten regular season title with Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan?... but only if Michigan beats Indiana.

The ES is 100% in line with coach Izzo's comments to ESPN in the pending Indy v Rodents matchup: "Izzo said his mentor, former Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote, wouldn't want him to root for rival Michigan to win in any circumstance. 'I'm going to pull for Michigan State,' Izzo said."

"Our defense was unbelievable," Izzo said.

Right. These Spartans, who outplayed Indiana and Michigan but folded very late in their losses, have the defense and the grit to make a deep run in the tourney. If Appling comes to play from this point forward, the ES's $20 bet on the Spartans in Vegas to win it all may make the ES a rich man for a day.

Joe Lunardi's Bracketology has the Spartans as a #3 seed in the tourney... but methinks this team has as much grit and determination as any Spartan Final Four team in recent years, and a win in the Big Ten championship tourney could make MSU an outside #1 seed....

Live CHAT: MSU at Michigan.

2013-03-03T12:53:00.002-05:00

#9 Michigan State at #4 Michigan

Spartans LIVE CHAT vs Michigan tomorrow at 4

2013-03-02T23:36:00.000-05:00

Spartans taking on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Sunday, 4 pm on CBS. The ES is heading to Las Vegas tomorrow, but leaving Lansing Airport at 7:30 pm. Thusly, he'll entertain a LIVE CHAT tomorrow for the 4 pm game. Come on over and chime in!!! Funny, Michigan is favored by 4 over the Spartans. The Vegas bookies just don't get it, do they? Myron Medcalf at ESPN predicts a 70-67 Spartan win over the little yellow men. ES sez Appling wakes up, and the defense puts up a wall to stifle the Wolvies.

B1G cans Legends-Leaders for East-West, Mark Emmert on the coals

2013-02-23T01:03:00.000-05:00

So after watching the Big Ten network the other day and listening to the comments from Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, it seems reasonable to expect that Ohio State and Michigan will be in the same division when the Big Ten reforms its lineups upon the arrival of Maryland (lovely football attendance example at right) and Rutgers. I really do believe that there will be an East and West division, and the Spartans will likely end up in the West division. Here is what it would look like:

East: Maryland, Rutgers, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue, Indiana

West: Michigan State, Northwestern, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota

ES made a brief shout out to the Huge Show the other day in response to his question of whether Michigan State should be in the same division as Michigan. Let's get real, as Spartan fans we really don't care because this will be a protected rivalry and the Spartans still will always play Michigan in the same year... always giving us a chance to kick their tail.

Stealing from the ACC to grow B1Gger

Talking is growing lowder about adding more schools to the Big Ten conference. Schools that are mentioned the most as potential additions include Virginia, North Carolina, and Syracuse. Yes, these are all Atlantic Coast conference ACC schools and while the ACC does have a media contract worth $13 million dollars per school, it does not rival the Big Tennetwork and the Big Ten's media contracts which at last estimate was worth $19.3 million per year per institution and with a renegotiation from the addition of Maryland and Rutgers, it is expected to be worth as much as $27 million per year beginning in 2014. Reaching South from the New York and DC markets to cherry pick Virginia and North Carolina two the Big Ten makes sense from an expansion standpoint with the alignment of two additional high-profile academic institutions, competitive football and basketball programs, competitive nonrevenue sports such as soccer, lacrosse, golf, tennis, and track and field. Adding these two schools also will further enhancing the value of the Big Ten Network. Charlottesville Virginia is a DC Richmond constituency, while North Carolina has the Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem research triangle, as well as potentially the Charlotte area. Adding an additional 10-15 million viewers to the network would further raise the value of the Big Ten network to maybe 32 or $35 million annually.

Emmert is walking wounded

The days are drawing shorter for Mark Emmert at the NCAA. The academic scandals and recruiting nightmares that have occurred under the watch of NCAA president Emmert seemed to continue at a torrid pace. Recent commentary by Jay Bilas and on ESPN Take Down or other ESPN-ites seemed to begin dispel doom for Emmert's presidency. Ohio State, Auburn, Penn State, Oregon, Miami, and who knows what other scandals lurk in the shadows and are waiting to be unveiled. While Emmert seems intent on using his academic pedigree as former presidents at the University of Washington and provost at LSU, he seems to be completely out of tune with his own staff.

The state of Pennsylvania's suit against the NCAA does seem to have merits as Penn State was not given an opportunity for due process. At Miami, the fact that Emmert fired his vice president for enforcement because of “improper investigation techniques”seems to fly in the face from what his own staff and other former investigators seem to believe are consistent with previous investigations. Either Emmert doesn't know what's going on, or he has extremely bad public relations and should learn to keep his mouth shut instead of grandstanding his academic virtues.

Indeed, when one considers these scandals and how the NCAA's own academic performance measurements are watered down in favor of eligibility, one has to wonder why he is even grandstanding. Furthermore, on the horizon lies that Eddie O'Bannon's lawsuit, which most experts agree has the potential to be a complete game changer for the future of college sports as we know it. If the NCAA loses the suit, potentially hundreds of millions or billions of dollars may have to be paid to former college athletes because the NCAA licensed their image for video games commercials and other purposes without asking the athletes specifically. Considering that the NCAA only makes $750 million a year, the institution could go bankrupt. If the NCAA wins the lawsuit, the argument has already been presented and the NCAA will need to respond to public and education demands of what the real role of major college football and basketball is for our nation's colleges.

In all honesty, the ES just don't see Emmert as being the right guy to answer that question nor lead an organization in response to the lawsuit and likely respond to public indictment regardless of who ends up on the victorious side of the suit.

MSU falls to Indiana, 72-68

2013-02-20T08:36:00.003-05:00

Well, that sucked. Lesson learned: you GOTTA make your free throws, especially in the last 3 minutes. That Oladipo dude is amazing. Appling just didn't have his best game, shooting 1-of-8 from the field, 0-4 threes, and 4-7 FTs (including the front end of a one-and-one late).

Congrats to Indiana - they made their shots when it mattered, the Spartans didn't.

Something tells me we may see these teams play one more time, in the B1G tournament title game.

Halftime: Indy by 6

2013-02-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

ES headed up to the Spartan HOF Cafe (which is jam-packed) and is ready for the second half. Some thoughts on Indy's six-point lead:

Indy scouted out Nix's reverse turn on his post drive, and have two steals off it.
Appling's shooting is off; which is the fist-half norm for him this year. He's not in foul trouble, but his shot is off... a word to Indy: watch out
Dawson: lots of energy, all over the place, but not where it needs to be. He needs to be a bit more focused.
Zeller is being contained, but so is Nix.
Gary Harris needs to find some space to shoot more. Maybe a few more screens.
Oladipo is a tough matchup and really is amazing to watch. But, watch Payne, too!
Time for the second half!!!!

#4 Spartans favored by 1 over #1 Indiana

2013-02-18T23:10:00.000-05:00

What a barn-burner. Michigan State, now standing at #4 in the nation after its whipping of Michigan and Penn State last week, is favored by a mere point over the stand-up, top-ranked #1 Indiana Hoosiers. This winner of this game may very well set the table for the regular-season, Big Ten Championship.

Tipoff is 7 pm tomorrow from the Breslin. Should be a freaking GREAT game.

WEAR WHITE. GO GREEN!

White Out: Michigan State vs Indiana

2013-02-17T11:20:00.001-05:00

Go BIG GREEN! 7 pm, Tuesday, at the Brez.