Chicago, already a hot bed for hoops on all levels, is becoming an even bigger and better local for college basketball. It was just announced today that Michigan State will battle Kentucky and Kansas will take on Duke in the Champions classic. The Big Ten versus SEC and Big 12 versus ACC challenge takes place November 12th at the United Center.
This week the UC will host the Chicago Bulls versus the Miami Heat in the NBA Eastern conference semi-finals. So again you’ll get to see Derrick Rose wearing four of his finest suits. Maybe five. I think Thibs can will this scrappy bunch to one win in the series.
Just last month the United Center hosted the McDonalds All-American game, the premier event on the prep level. And two weeks before, the Big Ten Tournament; which will soon be here to stay. So it’s the venue that rocks on all three levels. Michigan State versus Duke, Kentucky-Kansas will be dubbed the Champions Classic. Michigan State will probably have the home crowd advantage on this night.
The last time Tom Izzo was at the United Center he rocked upon the mic and rocked the mic right.
Tom Izzo did a Jimmy “B. Rabbit” Smith (Eminem’s character in “8 Mile”) style mic drop to end his postgame press conference.
“thanks for putting up with us tonight, see ya later,” is what Izzo said as he left the room. “Now we didn’t play good, but I’m telling you, you have to give Iowa a lot of credit for that. They made our life miserable tonight.”
When Tom Izzo greeted the media after an ugly come-from-behind Michigan State victory he rocked the mic right. His Michigan State Spartans played such an AWFUL first half tonight that they were borderline unwatchable. They still managed to beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 59-56 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, despite scoring just 20 points in the first 20 minutes.
“I’m outtie. Here tell these people something they don’t know about me.”
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)