Final Four 2009: Michigan State v. UConn

How will the Spartans win their Final Four match up with the UConn Huskies…  as just a normal Spartan sports fan.. let me explain…   This is what the game looks like from 30 feet.. from someone who Bleeds Green…

‘Cause that’s what a blog is all about.. No glitz.. No bull crap.. Just as Sparty MSU sees it… Oh, by the way, on a side note…  its Oberon season I saw my first shipments in the stores..


• The Spartans are 18-4 away from Breslin, and 9 – 3 on neutral courts.  Ford Field is a neutral court. Sure its close to friends and family, but it isn’t home. No Izzo designed plush locker room… and they’re in a hotel room.. UConn did well at home or away this year..  So advantage Spartans…

• Goran Suton: this young man has come into his own. If he doesn’t play in the NBA, it will be in Europe. He has skills.. its on his back that the team has gone forward in the tourney, his enthusiasm and focus spark the team. He is my vote for Spartan Player of the Tournament.  Love to watch his game.. avg. 11.5 rebounds and 14 points a game. This guy is averaging a double double in the tourney.  Since his surgery in December, he has continued to play  better and better…

 If anyone can turn Thabeet around it’s a combo of Suton, Ibok, and Day-Day (Green).


• Kalin is one heck of a floor general.. fast, dead nuts shot.. Voted Player of the Year in the Big Ten, he sets it up, takes control, and if you leave a lane open, he’ll cut to the basket faster than you can get a man on him. 

• DEFENSE.. Big D.. Man to Man, hand in the face, smash-mouth Spartan “D”.. Slow them down force them set up a shot.. Travis Walton: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has to try to work on UConn’s Price… Travis did a Herculean job with Louisville.. Now its on to UConn and A.J. Price.

• We will know quickly what type of game it will be.  If its  0 – 0 after 2 minutes, then the Spartans have come out to play hard nose Spartan style “D”.  If its aprox. 13 -12 after 8 minutes then “D” is alive and well.  If we go into half time knotted up or either team up with a delta of 8 or less, then it’s a “D” game.  In any of these scenarios, Spartans will win…


• Passion: I believe the Spartans are more passionate about this game. It is in Michigan.. It is local pride and a chance to redeem themselves against North Carolina. Note: in the first game against North Carolina this year at Ford Field (December3, 2008) Suton did not play, Green played only 6 minutes, Kalin Lucas shot 2 – 10.. The Spartans of December are not the same team this March and April.  North Carolina is the same, they’re good, they’re even keel, less improvement than the Spartans. The Spartans want a rematch this year in the Final.

To do so, we have to get past UConn… its do-able, but no easy task.

• Spartans are peeking as a team.. They have bonded, the bench has stepped up.. they win as a unit.. A typical cohesive Izzo team…

• Louisville was considered the best #1 seed in the Tournament, and the Spartans shut them down.  Will be the same for # 1 seed UConn.  They are about to see Big Ten “D”.

• Spartans have to limit turnovers, and protect the ball.  As much as I like Kori, he has made some bad passes… Ball control is key.


• Lady Luck… The ball has to go in the Hoop.. Spartans won’t win unless they can score and they are getting the favorable bounce.  Need those fast break buckets.. Get down quickly and score.

• Riding the Pine.. the Spartan bench has outscored the opposition’s bench this year: 27 – 36 games. To win it all, they have to continue to contribute… These guys step up.. Spartans are deep.. like an Izzo team.. they are deep and everyone contributes.

Can’t wait for the game..!!!  Go get yourself a case or 2 of Oberon and enjoy the Spartan success.... You can all be Green and White for a Weekend.....  Go Spartans.. !!!!

Sparty On !!!