The Only Colors: FanShots

Raymar is Ready

2010-03-17T23:30:37Z

Raymar is Ready

Consider this an addendum to the last Linking Laconically. The vibe from Raymar sounds good heading into the tournament.

TOC Traditional Bracket Challenge

2010-03-16T14:29:49Z

TOC Traditional Bracket Challenge

KJ will have his bracket challenge he ran at the ol' Spartans Weblog up sometime tonight or tomorrow. If you want to do a more traditional bracket, here's the information to join The Only Colors group on ESPN:

Group Name: The Only Colors
Group Password: Green5

Winner gets a random book I have lying around my apartment. It could be God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, or it could be The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, if you're lucky.

Because I want everyone to do their best, here's a tip - totally pick New Mexico and Purdue to make the Final Four. I'll be picking them too *stifles laugh*.

MSU - New Mexico St.: Friday at 7:20 pm (EDT).

2010-03-15T02:18:56Z

MSU - New Mexico St.: Friday at 7:20 pm (EDT).

As shown in the official tournament bracket, available here. (Times on the bracket are shown in local time. Thanks, intrpdtrvlr.)

The enemy. For more on New Mexico State, head over to Bleed Crimson, or check back here shortly.

2010-03-14T22:47:30Z

The enemy. For more on New Mexico State, head over to Bleed Crimson, or check back here shortly.

Munn Arena? Try "Yost West"

2010-03-13T13:23:03Z

Munn Arena? Try "Yost West"

Sounds like Munn was about half-empty last night. Disappointing crowd for a home game in the CCHA tourney.

Big Ten Tournament Preview: The Coronation of ...

2010-03-10T17:58:26Z

Big Ten Tournament Preview: The Coronation of ...

Pomeroy's Log5 projections don't like MSU's chances much: 62.8% to win Friday (KenPom ratings still like Minnesota a lot), 27.3% to get to the tournament final, 9.5% to win the thing. (100.0% chance of getting to the second round, though!)

The model's favorites are Wisconsin, Purdue, and Ohio State, in that order (but of course the model doesn't know Robbie Hummel will be in street clothes).

Numbers, schmumbers.

BTW, there are still 24 hours left to enter The Third Annual and (As Far As We Know) World's Only Big Ten Tournament Bracket Contest.

Notre Dame beginning to feel the pressure on Big 10 expansion

2010-03-09T20:31:15Z

Notre Dame beginning to feel the pressure on Big 10 expansion

Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick says that although Notre Dame still would like to maintain their independence, they may be forced to accept Big 10 expansion due to finances and other conferences expanding.

In town to attend the Big East basketball tournament, Swarbrick and new football coach Brian Kelly met with a small group of reporters Tuesday morning. Calling the current college landscape "as unstable as I've seen it" in 29 years as a sports executive, Swarbrick said, "You could each invent a scenario that would force our hand."

"You have two conferences [the Big Ten and SEC] that have separated themselves economically and you've got all the other conferences lined up for their [upcoming television] renegotiations," said Swarbrick. "The bar has been set so high, and the [current] media market is so tepid, that it creates a lot of tension."

Swarbrick reiterated Tuesday that, "while we're paying attention [to realignment], we're trying like heck to maintain our football independence. It's good for college football and it's great for Notre Dame. That's our goal."

Chris Allen Suspended

2010-03-09T17:06:43Z

Chris Allen Suspended

Moved here.

The Spartans pose with the Big Ten Championship Trophy in front of the new banner.

2010-03-08T04:57:33Z

The Spartans pose with the Big Ten Championship Trophy in front of the new banner.

Courtesy of Charlie Bell.

2010-03-08T00:23:14Z

Courtesy of Charlie Bell.

Purdue 64, Penn State 60

2010-03-06T22:02:40Z

Purdue 64, Penn State 60

For the second straight game, Penn State gives a conference title contender everything they could take before finally succumbing in the final seconds. And this time the Nittany Lions did it without Talor Battle's services late--closing a 12-point deficit to just a 1-point margin in the final minute with Battle on the bench due to leg cramps.

That makes two. Can MSU make it a full three-dish co-champion combo platter tomorrow night?

More specifically it comes down to three pointers. MSU tends to give up a few extra open looks from...

2010-03-05T21:57:52Z

More specifically it comes down to three pointers. MSU tends to give up a few extra open looks from three point range because they hedge the wings to stop penetration. The teams that hit threes have fared exceptionally well. Teams shooting over 34% from three point range are 6-8 versus the Spartans while the teams under that mark are a meager 1-15.

UMHoops previews Sunday's game

We would love to win a national championship, but we're not obsessed with it because we're obsessed...

2010-03-03T19:27:42Z

We would love to win a national championship, but we're not obsessed with it because we're obsessed with these guys trying to live their NBA dream . . .

Guess who said this

Ohio State 73, Illinois 57

2010-03-03T04:04:06Z

Ohio State 73, Illinois 57

The Buckeyes have locked up a share of the Big Ten title--and the #1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. That's a nice position to be in, with the other two title contenders each facing two more games.

As for our Spartans, Tom Izzo is pulling out all the stops to try to ensure a win Thursday night.

Raymar Morgan is Co-Big Ten Player of the Week

2010-03-01T18:38:41Z

Raymar Morgan is Co-Big Ten Player of the Week

[Bumped. 25 rebounds in his last two games. -KJ]

Raymar Morgan posted 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Michigan State over No. 3 Purdue in a critical road contest on Sunday. The performance marked Morgan’s second double-double in conference play this season and his highest scoring output since netting 20 tallies against Michigan on Jan. 26.

How Wes Johnson went from Iowa State to Syracuse University

2010-03-01T06:38:36Z

How Wes Johnson went from Iowa State to Syracuse University

"There might not have been a need for a list except that Michigan State, a school that Johnson really liked, didn’t have a scholarship available."

Dang.

MSU might prefer to close on the road. The Spartans finish 7-2 in Big Ten road games this season...

2010-03-01T03:15:59Z

MSU might prefer to close on the road. The Spartans finish 7-2 in Big Ten road games this season after going 8-1 a year ago. That's 15-3 in two years, unmatched previously and not likely to be matched any time soon. "I don’t care what league you’re in, that’s an incredible amount of road wins and that’s got to say something more than I’m seeing in our team at times," Izzo said. "It’s got to be a little more toughness than I give them credit for. And it’s hard to win on the road so we have to figure out how to translate that into some more home wins."

LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe: Road sweet road

Lucas Ready for Purdue

2010-02-27T13:50:54Z

Lucas Ready for Purdue

His Facebook page says the ankle feels great.

Who’s Mistake Was Worse? MSU’s or UM’s?

2010-02-26T16:24:50Z

Who’s Mistake Was Worse? MSU’s or UM’s?

my brother-in-law just posted this article - a back-and-forth debate about whether the U-M NCAA violations are worse than the MSU fighting, etc.

check it out, and comment if you'd like

my2fish

(Very) Short history of tempo free from Wonk

2010-02-26T14:14:22Z

(Very) Short history of tempo free from Wonk

Via Mgoblog, a short interview with John Gasaway. Includes the info that Dean Smith is responsible for tempo-free stats and that the Grinch is one of the most receptive head coaches.