Not sure how this has anything to do with conferences anymore. So was it KU or the Big 12 responsible for their championship run last year? Were the Big 12 and C-USA the top two conferences last spring? Of course not. The Big East did just fine and so did the big 12. I have no idea how this somehow vindicates the Big 10 for getting waaayyy too many teams into the tournament. MSU is good, we have known that all along. We also knew the rest of the conference sucked.

State will be counted out as they have EVERY SINGLE TIME, but I like it. Even though State's at "home", UNC is the one with the pressure.

I feel good about this, just like I have this entire tournament.

Good luck to State, Schmidty. Always liked Izzo as a coach for scheduling up, MSU won me a bracket contest in 2000, and a friend of mine went to grad school there. Good luck to them on Monday.

SI

Well, if Missouri can't be in the Championship, I'm glad it's UNC... although I won't be upset if MSU wins.. I do like their team as well.

By my estimation Michigan State going into the tournament was the 2nd best 2 seed(behind Memphis) and thus the #6 team in the nation. If they win the tournament they'll have beaten the #1, #2, and #3 teams in the nation.

Anyone counting out the #6 team in the nation is a moron, they absolutely can win. But, they should absolutely have been the underdogs going into all 3. We'll see what happens Monday!

Really glad to see UNC play so well - it's going to be a good game on Monday - definitely either team could win, but if UNC continues to play like they have I think they will be able to take it.

Well, the bookies have the line at 7 1/2 so they're betting a lot of people have counted Michigan State out

SI

We're the Green-and-White from State
And we know we are the best
Hands behind our backs,
We can take on all the rest
GO TO HELL, CAROLINA!
Everyone else stand in line,
For the Green-and-White of Michigan State!

Go State!

(Schmidty will be confused, but Radii will get this... :D)

:D

We have a very close family friend who is from Michigan, roots for Michigan State and became an NC State fan in the 1970s when she moved to Wake Forest. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to speak to her this week.

Schmidty should be allowed to post on IC. That whole site is full of dooshbaggery

...and there goes Courtney Paris' scholarship.

I actually think, offensively, Michigan State should have an easier time of it against UNC than they did against UCONN. They just plain couldn't get the ball in to the key against the Huskies, but that's not going to be such a problem against UNC. The biggest worry is UNC's shooting. If Michigan state defend the perimeter they have a real chance, but if they fall behind by 10 or more, it's over. I think you'd rather have Hansbrough get 20-10 on you inside the paint than have Green, Lawson and Ellington bombing threes.

I just realized that the Terps beat both teams in the final this season. Not that it matters, just something funny to notice.

/tk

Or at least her first year WNBA salary. Enjoyed watching that a great deal.

I just wish that I might have the same happy outcome in the next semifinal but I'm not what you'd call hopeful. But a Stanford win over UConn would be a great way to finish off the weekend.

Folks on wiki are quick:

Paris has announced that if Oklahoma does not win the NCAA championship in 2009, her final year, she will repay her scholarship--worth about $60,000 in out-of-state tuition--to the university.She lost so she better live up to it and pay it back. She says that without a championship, "I don’t feel like I’ve earned it.”^[7]

the school will never make her pay it back.

I can see her starting a scholarship or something though

Yeah, I suspect she will just make a donation to the school.

What Stanford needs in the 2nd half in order to make it a game:

-Cut down the turnovers
-Shoot an exceptional percentage
-Put something in Uconn's vitamin water

Must have put the wrong thing in the vitamin water as UConn extends the lead to 29.

UNC wins by 25 tonight.

Noticed that the National Association of Basketball Coaches handed out their awards. John Calipari and Mike Anderson were named co-coach of the year. Congrats to both of them, though it may be somewhat bittersweet for Memphis fans.

Let's go, SPARTY!!!

I have my picture with that guy! Johnny Spartan!

You must be very proud. And it's Johnny Spirit, not Spartan.

I knew it began with an S...but in my defense I had about 15 beers before the game.

Yeah, this guy is John Spartan (on the left):



SI

STATE FTW!

For UNC's sake, they better not come out cocky tonight. The last two number one seeds Izzo came out and punched them in the nose right at the start of the game throwing them slightly off kilter.

Even when UCONN pulled out a run in the first half, they did the great bulk of it against the BENCH! I was a little scared at the time, but it made sense once the starters were put back in. We made them play an up tempo game too long and it showed, especially when we denied them their powerful post game with our defense (Suton may have sucked in shooting, but his quick hands were giving Thabeet and the rest trouble all night, and he was rarely pushed off his mark).

This is not the same team that UNC faced early in the year, they are very young overall, and hungry. Beating the toughest teams possible on the way to this game will work in State's favor as well, they've had to work for each win so I don't think the Spartans will come out soft. Expect the first ten minutes to be very high energy, maybe not in terms of the scoreboard ticking off lots of points, but lots of hustling for the ball and getting into spots on defense. If anything I think a low score but highly phsyical game early on will indicate a very bad day for UNC. UCONN obviously had more muscle (look how easily we piled on fouls inside for instance), but Izzo teaches his players to take the beating and keep on playing hard.

The first 10 minutes will be critical for both sides. UNC needs to score early and keep the crowd out of it as much as possible, while MSU cannot afford to let Carolina's explosive offense get on track and play from behind. getting behind early for either team could be fatal.

If its low scoring then I'll be worried for sure, UNC has come out strong in every game of the tournament and they need to do it one last time here. Physical would be fine with me. Lawson and Green are tough and there are 4 big men to throw around as needed, and if the refs let them play UNC will be able to generate more turnovers and Lawson will find a way to get out ahead of everyone for fast break baskets.


I really hope there isn't any issue with Carolina coming out cocky because of the big win back in December. The Heels would do well to remember the first half of the Kansas game in the final four last year and use that for motivation instead of anything at all regarding the first contest with michigan state. :D

6 1/2 hours seems like a long long ways away, I'm pumped.

GO MSU!

+1

These reports about MSU being the bearer of the hope of Michigan during the recession and economic downturn are getting a bit old.

Let's stick to the real reason why everyone is backing MSU........they're playing North Carolina. I hope they stick it to Huckleberry Hound and his team.

The Mizzou hate for Carolina makes me smile so. I'm meeting a good buddy that's a mizzou fan in Atlantic City in a couple weeks, maybe I ought to pick up a UNC jersey to wear around him. what stings more? Hansbrough or Larry Drew's kid in Chapel Hill? :D

Seth Davis says MSU is a team of destiny. That's why they'll win.

Neither. The hatred for Huckleberry Hound outweighs them by a vast distance.

I'm already getting nervous.

Enjoy it man! I miss that feeling.

GO GREEN!!

Up in my area, no one really hates UNC...nothing like Duke at least.

I get $400 from my brothers pool if UNC wins. So......GO TARHEELS!!!!!

Yeah, that game was fun :D

SI

Seth Davis and Greg Anthony both pick Michigan State to win.

There is nothing i would like more than to see Hansbrough cry in defeat!

so so nervous. GO HEELS!

Let's go Sparty!!!!

Has a team every beat 3 number ones to win a championship? I may have to look that up.

Arizona 97, beat Kansas, Carolina and Kentucky in that order I believe.

Yep, just looked it up. Forgot how good of a run they had that year. Thanks!

Better keep this one in shooting range if you're Izzo and company, otherwise I think the pressure from NC's offense is gonna be way, way too much.

Looks like is going to get ugly early. :(

Well, wonder what else is on TV tonight...*sigh*

NC came to play. They've got more talent. MSU needs to stay calm, though.