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In recent years, we’ve seen a major surge in tweets from media members and pundits that end with: “both things can be true.” Tweets such as these are required, given the binary mode of thinking that is so prevalent in America these days. Despite rapid advances in information technology and ways to disseminate that information, more people are regressing intellectually.
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Before Michigan and Michigan State played for the Big Ten Tournament title, in what was their third meeting this this season, both head coaches discussed the growing significance of their heated rivalry. Both Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and Michigan head man John Beilein opined on the idea of MSU-Michigan being/one day becoming on par with North Carolina-Duke.
Playing for the third time in a span of just three weeks, the Michigan-Michigan State blood feud is becoming more relevant and entertaining by the year.
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You know how it is with Michigan State basketball- the season really doesn’t begin until March. Reaching the NCAA Tournament is basically automatic for this program, so success or failure is judged by what they do in the The Big Dance.
That said, today’s 73-63 loss at Purdue was certainly disheartening for several reasons. This team really needs wing Joshua Langford, and the dimensions that he gives them, back very badly. Langford missed eighth straight game today due to an ankle injury, the specifics of which the school has kept quiet. Michigan State basketball certainly has a #2 seed profile right now, and with a little work, could be on that top line come Selection Sunday.
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Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has been on a roll lately when it comes to press conferences. Last month at Northwestern he told us about how we’re in a “soft society.” Izzo added “everyone gets a trophy, give ’em a trophy for 23rd place.” (full harangue here).
Today, on the Big Ten coaches conference call, Tom Izzo was extremely critical of Facebook, Twitter and social media in general. Yes, he’s been derisive of these institutions in the past, but that was always more subtle. And Tom Izzo has not bashed social media on a level like this.
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Mateen Cleaves is not only one of the most legendary names in Michigan State history, he’s also one of the most iconic players in college basketball lore. This Spartan warrior is known for winning a national title while on crutches, being a stellar point guard and the ugly Bill Cosby style sweaters he wore on the bench when injured.
Mateen Cleaves played in the NBA for 6 years, including a couple years with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons. He later played in the NBDL, Russia and Greece. Now the Big Ten icon of icon is joining CBS Sports as a studio analyst.
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Aimee Teegarden was quite the rebel against her parents coach Erik Taylor and Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights. During his MSU career, it looked like Delvon Roe was sometimes going against what coach Tom Izzo had to say on the Spartans bench. If you followed Michigan State Spartans basketball in recent years, you might have noticed a certain Shakespearean acting clip playing over and over during MSU telecasts. Whenever Delvon Roe was mentioned, ESPN/BTN/whoever cut away to a shot of him acting in the bard’s play “As You Like it” at MSU. In that production, Roe played Charles the Wrestler. In a movie with Aimee Teegarden, he played a former football player named Issac. Maybe Roe and Aimee Teegarden worked well in the IF.
Roe got paid $20,000 for the gig, as he beat out the big Mike actor (Quinton Aaron) from the academy award winning “The Blind Side,” the only other person to audition for the role.
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John L. Smith is one of the most colorful characters in college football. Unfortunately, he’s now at a much lower rung in the sport. The man who took over at Arkansas on very short notice in the wake of the Bobby Petrino Jessica Dorrell scandal, that led the Razorbacks to a disastrous 4-8 season has landed a new job at D2 Fort Lewis College in Colorado. He’ll take a severe paycut. A really drastic paycut.
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During the Michigan State Spartans utter destruction of the Purdue Boilermakers today, you might have noticed a little punch thrown by State forward Branden Dawson on Purdue’s Travis Carroll. Tom Izzo coached players do not act like this; McDonald’s All-Americans do not like act like this. Watch the video to see the act for yourself. Of course, the Spartans deny it. Deny deny deny:
video h/t Hammer and Rails
Michigan State sports information director Matt Larson sent the following in an email to the BTN:
“The angle of Branden Dawson that BTN had during the broadcast certainly makes it look like there might have been a punch. However, I’ve viewed an angle from underneath the basket and that does not appear to be the case.”
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There’s already been a movement to have Draymond Green‘s number retired at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. That’s how much he meant to the Michigan State Spartans and Big Ten college basketball. He’s also an NBA draft prospect, potentially in the first round. The Sports Bank’s Ngozi Ekeledo had a very detailed exclusive with Green, discussing his past, present and future.
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There’s already been a movement to have Draymond Green‘s number retired at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. That’s how much he meant to the Michigan State Spartans and Big Ten college basketball. He’s also an NBA draft prospect, potentially in the first round. The Sports Bank’s Ngozi Ekeledo had a very detailed exclusive with Green, discussing his past, present and future.
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There’s already been a movement to have Draymond Green‘s number retired at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. That’s how much he meant to the Michigan State Spartans and Big Ten college basketball. He’s also an NBA draft prospect, potentially in the first round. The Sports Bank’s Ngozi Ekeledo had a very detailed exclusive with Green, discussing his past, present and future.
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Michigan State has reached the sweet sixteen in 10 of the last 15 years. Tom Izzo is Mr. March as every player he’s recruited that has stayed in East Lansing all four years has reached at least one Final Four. Remember that whenever you fill out your brackets in future years.
The Big Ten is 9-2 in the tourney so far and comprises one fourth of the sweet sixteen. Purdue was inches away from possibly making it five teams, and 10-1. So remember that next New Year’s Day when the Big Ten gets destroyed by the SEC in bowl games. It’s the best college basketball conference this year, not the best college football conference. (That’s the SEC almost every year)
Challenging the B1G is the Big East and that brings us the Louisville Cardinals.
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