Silver lining in loss

By Sean Ely

Created:
03/29/08 1:12am

Last updated:
03/29/08 1:12am

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Houston – It might be tough to shine any positive light on the shallacking Memphis gave the MSU men’s basketball team tonight.
But in my opinion, it’s already time to look into the future – the Spartans ended a promising year on a note that many will never understand.
Trust me, I don’t quite know what happened and I was sitting just feet away from the action and heard post-game comments. It’s mind-boggling.
But think of what’s in store for this team next year and look at the guys who never glanced at the scoreboard the entire game – freshman guard Chris Allen and junior center Goran Suton.
The combination stepped up and flat out played the game, scoring a combined 43 points on 65.5 percent shooting and grabbing 13 rebounds, taking shots when no one else would.
And with the addition of three incoming recruits to go along with guys like Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Raymar Morgan, it makes the loss of seniors Drew Neitzel and Drew Naymick a little bit easier to handle.
Next season, the Spartans might even look like the Memphis team from this year – a roster full of athletes who can straight-up run the floor and score the basketball.
Just like MSU head coach Tom Izzo is going to tell his team, I’m going to mention to all of you – appreciate a productive season and start working for a championship for 2009.
The beautiful part of this sport is that a brand new season begins the second a team’s final game ends.
That’s NCAA basketball, that’s athletics, that’s what jump happened.
Toss away the tear-filled Kleenex. We’re moving on!

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