Loss was huge letdown, but wait for Friday
Sean Ely
It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the MSU men’s basketball team and its fans.
But lately, it all seemed to be heading uphill — a monstrous win at home against Indiana, an impressive win in a hostile environment in Illinois and now a season-ending victory against Ohio State to finish with a 13-5 conference record.
Right? Not quite. Actually, not at all.
MSU head coach Tom Izzo called Sunday’s 63-54 loss to the Buckeyes in Columbus one of the biggest letdowns in his 13-year career — and I couldn’t agree more.
Never once in the first 30 minutes of the game did I expect to see the Spartans heading home from blizzardy Columbus with their heads hung low.
I just knew they were a better team who wanted to finish the regular season right, with its third straight win — heading into the Big Ten Tournament with a fire beneath them to do some serious damage.
But I was wrong. They didn’t smell blood and go for the jugular like the team I thought they were becoming. And I know for a fact Spartans fans across the nation will call MSU, a team they once supported, a squad of choke artists who can’t win in pressure situations.
I know, I know. I’ve read the comments on my stories. There are three types of readers: loyal fans who’ve stuck it out all season, those who have despised Spartans basketball from the get-go, and my favorite, those who have jumped on and off the bandwagon more times than MSU has turned the ball over.
I know I’ll hear from some of you again, and before you leap off the wagon for good, think about how prepared the Spartans will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, when they battle Ohio State for the third time this season — except this time, on a neutral floor.
It will prove who truly is the better team, who came to play and fixed errors from Sunday’s game. My opinion? It’s on Izzo and his staff.
They’ll watch film, take notes, run plays and cure the plague MSU suffered the last 10 minutes of its previous game.
The problems will be addressed and the Spartans will thrive off the bitter taste that will still be in their mouths Friday.
Remember the Indiana game on March 2? I do.
Sean Ely is a State News men’s basketball reporter. He can be reached at elysean@msu.edu.
Published on Sunday, March 9, 2008
Comments
Matt
03/10/08 @ 2:07am
That was an interesting way to begin your story.
Actually it wasn’t at all.
We are terrible. We shouldn’t have problems with these middle school, schools. Don’t think you’re going out on a limb to say we “will be prepared” to win on a neutral floor. We are the better team. We know this. We underachieve. That’s the issue. Look at our losses and lack of a quality road win. I mean come on. This team is a joke.
This has been the way MSU Ball has been for years now. Inconsistent. Never really closing the door and winning all the games they should. Even 2005 Final Four team was downright pathetic until that tourney run.
The aura of MSU is no moraaaaa. (Now that’s a good journalism device)
izzoisthru
03/10/08 @ 7:47am
You said it all in one word Matt “terrible”.
MSU ALUM & MSU Chicago;
What is your excuse for the pathetic effort against the bubble-team OSU? You keep characterizing these ever-accruing losses as aberrations. The aberration was the IU blow-out. These are typical no-heart results. Wait til Friday & watch the elementary school team posing as the Buckeyes open another can of whup-ass against the Green.
Jason
03/10/08 @ 9:38am
I agree that Matt put it well, especially when he said “We are the better team. We know this. We underachieve. That’s the issue.” It has consistently been our issue throughout the year…and, in reference to Sean’s statements about those who respond to his articles, I have held the same stance on our team all year…I thought the Indiana game was an aboration, just as the individual above referenced, and, although I was hoping to be wrong because we DID seem to turn a corner, especially in the turnover department since the Wisconsin game, I was cautioning those who thought we were back to the Spartan machine we were in the late ninety’s into 2001. Prognosis: loss before the championships (although we are talented enough to win it all) and third round exit in the big dance (keep in mind most prognosticators are projecting us as a 4/5, meaning even if we make the sweet 16, we’ll have to play a 1 seed…and I don’t see us beating any of the ones that may end up there). Again, I hope I’m wrong. I remember the euphoric feeling I had when we beat Duke and Kentucky en route to the 2005 final four, not expecting either, but I just can’t see it happening.
MSU Chicago
03/10/08 @ 2:14pm
Izzoisthru- You are a whiney little bitch. A can of whoop ass? 1997 called and wants that line back. You are ignorant. 24-7. Terrible? I hope you don’t consider yourself a Spartan. You have no affiliation with Michigan State. Make sure you keep watching. Every win will make you feel even more like the d-bag you are. See you at the Final Four.
Optimistic Matt
03/10/08 @ 2:28pm
I’m yet to understand all the criticisms of this years team. Sure we’ve looked awful at times but weve also shown flashes of glory. We finished the regular season 24-7. If thats “terrible” you have rather high standards. Were ranked 19th in the espn poll, i wouldnt consider that a down year, and to say this team is “terrible” is quite a stretch. We got the talent to win ball games and i think we have the heart too. I guess the true test starts this week, and in my own opinion, i think we come out and blow out OSU. I guess well see…
Huh?
03/10/08 @ 2:41pm
MSU Chicago:
You have the nerve to lable someone as a “whiny little bitch”? After you posted your nya, nya, nya, nya, nya last week! Look in the mirror! Nice language by the way.
Hooo boy! What an ***-hole.
Optimistic Matt:
Thanks for some higher-level commentary. The tiresome Hillary/Obama-like drivel contained in MSU Chicago needs some counterpoint.
Valerie
03/10/08 @ 2:47pm
Exactly!
Chicago, Chicago – that Obama kinda town!
Chicago, Chicago – I’ll show you around
Bet your bottom dollar
You’ll lose the NCAA tourney
From Chicago, Chicago …
Matt One
03/10/08 @ 5:04pm
24-7 is good to you because we lost to cupcakes OSU PSU, UI, and couldn’t beat Indiana, Wisco, Purdue on the road? Come on. Grow up. We were supposed to be better. Look at all our talent. This was, “The Year,” to win the Big Ten. We never do. And we didn’t again. Grow up Peter Pan, Count Choculah.
Forget Optimism, how about some truth? 24-7 is not where we should be. Especially since we lost to ever decent team except about two real contenders. And one almost tied the game with halfcourt three’s.
MSU Chicago
03/10/08 @ 11:15pm
You want higher level commentary try subscribing to the Wall Street Journal. I find it funny that you know me but I don’t have an idea who you are. I am glad you enjoy the entries. Heres one for you. You are off the bandwagon so go root for someone else. We have real fans and we have you. Only a whiny little bitch would try to incorporate sports and government. If you put down your Magic cards and watch a Spartan game you will know what 24 wins looks like. I think you missed the #8 Texas Win or at Bradley, how about #23 BYU, maybe Purdue at #16 or Indiana at #23?? Lost a close game on the road at Paulie? Anything????????????? Go back actually watch a sporting event them come back and act like you have a clue about whats going on.
Optimistic Matt
03/10/08 @ 11:48pm
Matt One-I can truly appreciate your originality and creativity on this posting. Peter Pan, Count Choculah, thats quite witty. I’ll have to remember to come back after I recall a line from a movie thats applicable. Anyways, I’ll remain optimistic about our post-season run, you keep doubting, if we play like I know we can, you’ll be eating your words.
valerie
03/11/08 @ 9:53am
MSU Chicago:
Why are you like this? I do subscribe to the Wall Street Journal and it reports daily upon the unsavory character assasination techniques taught to you by the ultra-left-wing liberal Mrs. Bill Clinton and Barak Hussein Obama and employed by you in these sports-oriented pages. Figure out the difference between candidates for office and government. As much as you’d like it to be true, the democrat party does not work in the White House nor will Chicagoans ever get over the second-city inferiority complex. Also figure out the difference beween opinion and reality and stop your democrat tendency to name-call and use profanities whenever someone does not share your point of view. Learn how to spell Pauley (as in Pavillion) and grow up. How you could construe that Huh? is off the bandwagon is beyond reasonable comprehension. And why do you need a bandwagon? You profess to be a fan – true fans are not riding bandwagons. Keep exposing your complete inability to convey coherent thought -its a kick to read. Thanks!
Huh?
03/11/08 @ 9:59am
Thanks, Val.
MSU Chicago:
Boy, you got me there! What a stinging rebuke! I may never recover. Your language betrays you. Live with it.
MSU Chicago
03/11/08 @ 12:47pm
If you like those previous ones you love this one. Again you try to use political views to disrespect me. You need a hobby. Politics do not count as a hobby. I am at a lost thinking of what kind of a person you are. I am leaning toward the kid that no one ever wanted on their team or maybe you are the ugly girl. How do I know this? Only ugly girls care about politics as deeply as you do. Clearly you don’t have friends to distract you from recording every single primary race. Chicago is a great place. Comments about Chicago show just how lonely and desperate you are. You are resentful that no one gave you attention growing up. Turning to politics gave you an outlet. Unfortunately you cant make a difference. You talk about Clinton and Obama? Tell your boy GW to pull us out of the mess we call an economy. I’m sure you want to blame something else for that too. You still haven’t given one knowledgeable fact or opinion on sports. Until then keep stroking off McCain.
1st team B-10
03/11/08 @ 1:52pm
Ha. That last line killed me.
Valerie- get a life. I am betting she is fat too.
Huh? – you stop stroking Granholm. yeah I said it.
State in 08.
valerie
03/11/08 @ 7:33pm
MSU Chicago & 1st team B-10 (yeah, right-I believe you)
You both (and I know you are the same) – exactly as Huh? has noticed, your language betrays you) fail to answer any charge in favor of name-calling. D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T! To your group’s credit, at least Geraldine spoke the truth. ERA forever! You boys are so outclassed, you cannot eve resond to the issue at hand. MSU rules!
Huh?
03/11/08 @ 7:43pm
MSU Chicago (aka dufus)
Have you not noticed that you appear ridiculous? What has anything here to do with government (politics)? Isn’t this an e-mail string following an article about sports? I’m done. You are an archtypical buffoon! Try to defend Chicago? Assume I am a girl? Fat? Ugly? What a collossal loser! Don’t you have any knowledge of the Russian immigrant population of your(imagined)own community? I know you are not really from there, you couldn’t be that stupid! I’m done. And, before you write another insipid message thanking me – don’t! And remember Einstein, it’s Pauley! Dumbass
MSU Chicago (really)
03/11/08 @ 8:43pm
to the d head that continues to pollute sports commentary with his pedantic pronouncements … MSU Chicago (pretend) SHUT UP!