Under Appreciated Spartans Head to Ford Field

“Ford Field.” Those were the two words that Tom Izzo wrote on the white board at practice at the beginning of the season. The words were small, but the meaning was immense: play hard all season, and we can make a Final Four appearance in our own backyard. Today, the Spartans accomplished that goal.

 

As I was driving back from Indy (with an enormous smile on my face) I couldn’t help but think about all of the Talking Heads around the nation that didn’t give MSU a fighting chance to win this game. “They’re not as talented.” “They can’t keep up.” “They won’t be able to control the ball with Louisville’s pressure defense.” These were all statements that I heard from some of the most renowned “analysts” yesterday and this morning. But the Spartans proved today that they were all wrong.

 

Not only did MSU display its talent, but Goran Suton absolutely stole the show in the first half, and Durrell Summers came off the bench to play shut down defense and lights out offense in the second half. The Spartans also didn’t need to “keep up,” because they controlled every facet of the game-including the tempo. And finally, Izzo had every answer for Pitino’s pressure defense. The Spartans ran set plays against the full-court press, and had a half-court offense led by outstanding guards that exhibited their ball handling skills while making passes that were accurate and frequent.

 

So, hoping to revel in my glory, I browsed the radio dial for hours while changing lines on I-69 looking for sports-talk radio. But when I did, I came across a common theme being discussed: how Louisville LOST the game. There was no mention of how MSU played dominate basketball in the second half. There was no mention of how Suton played the first 20 minutes like a man on fire. And there was only brief grumblings about Izzo’s stellar preparation. It’s clear that the country still under appreciates this team. But that’s OK-really it is. Because as I passed car after car on the highway with an MSU flag or license plate, I looked at each driver and saw that same ear to ear grin that I was wearing, and all was good. We Spartans know how special this team is and that’s all that matters.

 

So despite not having wireless internet in my hotel room (which seems extremely odd in 2009), and despite being outnumbered by about 5to1 by Louisville fans everywhere I went, it was a great weekend in Indianapolis. Two little words inspired a team of young men to play like they did today, and that team gave me the happiest 5 hour drive I’ve ever had. And at 11 O’clock on Sunday night, with a long work day staring me in the face, I am still smiling, and I don’t see it fading anytime soon.