I believe Michigan State is the best team WSU has or will face since 2006-07, when it play Southern Cal in Las Vegas. That Trojans team went to the Sweet 16 after defeating WSU 60-56. WSU is not ready to play with the Spartans, although I thought the same thing before the Georgetown game. The Shockers will need to be even better today than they were in Thursday’s 58-50 loss to the Hoyas. The Spartans are more experienced than the Hoyas, and probably bigger and just as talented.
WSU’s trip is a success, a long as today doesn’t turn into an embarrassment. Michigan State is a great measuring stick for toughness. If the Shockers can hang tough, it will be a nice effort.
- The Beltway rivalry game for third place will attract more attention than most third-place games.
- Siena’s Kenny Hasbrouck did a lot of thinking after Friday’s loss to WSU. The Saints look like a good bet to leave Orlando 0-3.
- Michigan State feels better about itself after beating Oklahoma State.
Around the MVC:
- Kansas City’s Interscholastic League will name its field house for former Shocker star Warren Jabali.
- Creighton loses to Nebraska on a last-second basket. The big story is P’Allen Stinnett, who arguably cost the Jays the past two games. He did not play against Nebraska. He did not start and played poorly at Arkansas-Little Rock. Stinnett and coach Dana Altman do not see eye to eye on something. It is still too early to write off Creighton and an at-large bid. But the Jays need to improve quickly and they need Stinnett.
- Illinois State is playing its second three-game tournament in two weeks. Coach Tim Jankovich won’t do it again. The more interesting question is whether or not Illinois State did itself and the MVC a disservice by not scheduling one or two better opponents.
- UNI bounces back from a blowout to beat Auburn. Freshman Johnny Moran continues to be one of the MVC’s most productive newcomers.
- Vanderbilt hammers Drake.