Not because any of us are taking finals this year, but because basketball starts up again in a couple days.  Let's get to the links!

ESPN - College Bowl Mania - Group

The password is: spartans.  1st place gets a copy of Duffy: An Autobiography, 2nd and 3rd prizes are $10 gift certificates to Underground Printing.  You have until the start of the first bowl game (2 PM on Saturday) to make and rank your picks.

MSU football: Glad all over | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal

Fluff, but fluff about a little-healded position - the fullback.

Big Ten has three unanimous All-Americans - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

You can guess who this is about.  Greg Jones is the first Spartan unanimous All-American since 2002 when Charles Rogers was one.  May the former's career be the opposite of the latter's.

Basketball Prospectus | Unfiltered

The unicorn stat is dead.  Long live the unicorn stat.

 Tom Izzo uses final exam week to evaluate Spartans | MLive.com

Bullet points on half the team, allowing players to miss class, and next year's nonconference schedule.

Michigan State makes cut for two prospects | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

And both of them are linemen!  Huzzah!

Michigan State's Mark Dantonio finalist for another coaching award | MLive.com

Appropriately enough, the prize benefits the American Heart Association.

Neil Koepke: MSU's best hasn't been good enough | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal

In case you're looking for a ray of hope in hockey.  The schedule doesn't set up well however.