Send em packing

Ahh yes.Revenge is sweet.The great Satan entered the Breslin Student Events Center and was sent home to West Lafayette to mull over the bitter taste of defeat.Although Purdue played excellent defense, squashing MSU's weak attempts to work the floor under the basket and entered the locker room with a lead at half,it wasnt enough.With the usual vocal crowd,and the motivation of the seniors wanting to leave Breslin on a winning note, Purdont succumbed to a 15-4 run to open the second half and a MSU squad that put the clamps on on the defensive end.LOTS and LOTS of whistles, but what would you expect from two physical teams?
Now its on to the Big Ten tournament.MSU,Illinois,Purdue,Wisconsin and Ohio State all have a bye for the first round and will play starting Friday.It all kicks off with Northwestern playing Minnesota.I think my predictions for Minnesota have been spot on, and Norhtwestern really bucked tradition by upsetting MSU and gathering more wins than anyone can remember.I think Minnesota will lose this one,even though Northwestern dropped its last game to OSU.I think the Cats are starting to realize they can win sometimes if they play hard enough.Minnesota has been on a slow slide from the onset when MSU squashed them at the Barn to open play.Northwestern moves on.Moves on to play the juggat natha MSU, who will attempt to win the tournament crown for the 3rd time, a Big Ten record.As always,cautious optimism is the hallmark of a Spartan, so we will take em out one at a time,hopefully.
Michigan plays Iowa in round one.What can you say about Michigan other than this.You need a bench, and three more starters.And a name change.And a new Arena, cause MSU has soiled the current one beyond repair.Michigan shocked two number 4 ranked teams including the most hated UCLA AND DUKE(who threw their legs up for UNC AGAIN), but is a Jekyl and Hyde team.We will see who shows up to play.The Hawks are Big Ten champs.....in wrestling....again.If basketball was all about take downs and firm grips on your opponents baby makers, the Hawks would surely dominate.This is not the case and I feel Iowa has their work cut out for them.UM really has no hope of NCAA invites, but they will show up none-the-less.Iowa goes home,remove shoe laces and belts.
Day two sends the Bucknuts to face Wisconsin.Wisconsin has performed exactly as I expected, all smoke and mirrors.Bo Ryan is an excellent illusionist.Wisco has fallen from the 31 win season(and subsequent exit of the NCAA's before Memphis sent MSU home..hehehehe) to a mere shell of its former self.Landry,Nankivill, and Krabenhoft will continue to overachieve and the 12 year old kid the have playing guard will chip in, but I feel that Ohio State has got big dance aspirations still, and they will come out with typical OSU savagery and enthusiasm.Thad Matta has convinced me he is the real deal.Sweaty, but the real deal none the less.Two men enter...one man leave...that man is Brutus, not Bucky.
I didnt forget PennState vs Indiana, I just think that this game is a footnote on the ass of time.Doesnt matter who wins.Credit PSU for a breakout season and a eyes closed miracle win at East Lansing for the first time in recorded history.Tom Crean might get lucky and push the Hoosiers to the upset.....no....wont happen.Sorry IU, sweet relief is coming when PSU kicks the plug and ends the pain.The great Satan will face the winner of this game and shall dominate them thoroughly so, in my eyes, its a giant DFM situation.
Illinois shall face the UM/Iowa winner.50/50 situation here.Im just not convinced that Illinois will put forth an adequate effort.If there ever was an upset in the making its right here.Bruce Weber has done his usual outstanding job coaching, but there is something soft about the Illini, I just cant put my finger on it.
Congrats to the Nittany Lions for a good season and to OSU for Thad Matta's 9th?, 20 win season. Accomplishments worth mention indeed.