Forget the Lions and Cowboys. Today is for basketball.
- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo can’t pick a favorite in the Old Spice Classic. He is a little over-enthusiastic about Oklahoma State. “Never” is a really big word. Izzo calls the tournament the “Maui of the Mainland.” Two Spartans are iffy because of injuries.
- Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl may be without injured J.P. Prince. If you are really into Pearl stories, check out this one about his ex-wife and her salon named “Alimony’s.”
- The Siena-Tennessee matchup matches two up-tempo teams.
- Another Maui comparison from Gonzaga coach Mark Few. His game with Oklahoma State may be the best of the first day.
- Maryland is unbeaten (everbody in the field except Wichita State is) but still waiting on a real test.
Around the MVC:
- Big game Saturday for Creighton and the Valley. The Jays head to Nebraska trying to change their image as a bunch of pushovers.
- Turnovers killed SIU in a loss at Western Kentucky Wednesday. Doesn’t sound like a bad loss, until you check out Western’s schedule. This is not the team that went to the Sweet 16 last season.
- Indiana State is 0-3.
- When you spend $67 million on an arena, shouldn’t you get the locker rooms right?