Get ready for three straight against MSU

Submitted by Kilgore Trout on February 25th, 2021 at 11:53 PM

With State's win tonight and Minnesota falling apart, it looks like MSU is destined for the 8-9 game in the BTT. 3 games against MSU in 8 days should be interesting.

Qmatic

February 26th, 2021 at 12:02 AM ^

Aside from early phantom calls against Dickinson or MSU concussing half our team, there is no way they beat us. They can’t outshoot us, can’t beat us down low, and can’t defend us enough to win

Don

February 26th, 2021 at 11:14 AM ^

1986: After #6 Michigan loses to the unranked Spartans 91-79 up in E.L., Antoine Joubert guarantees a Michigan win in the February rematch in Ann Arbor. 

The rematch doesn't go well for #7 Michigan or Joubert, as the #19 Spartans roll to an easy 15 pt victory that featured Scott Skiles taunting Joubert with "fat boy" before and during the game en route to a 33pt night himself.

Skiles was the only Spartan on that team who played in the NBA, while Michigan had Roy Tarpley, Gary Grant, and a freshman Glen Rice, along with college standouts Richard Rellford, Butch Wade, and Joubert.

That's far from the only time a significantly more talented Michigan team was upended by MSU in a variety of sports. No, it doesn't mean that MSU is automatically going to do that in the final two games of this season—Michigan has better players, and so far this season has proved it's a much better team than MSU. I just think it's historical blindness to ignore the fact that of all the Big Ten opponents Michigan has, MSU by far has the most upset victories. Some instate rivalries exist more on paper than in reality, but not this one.

I'll take nothing for granted, especially when playing this bunch of Spartan goons who will try to reduce the talent differential with hacks, punches, elbows, shoves, tripping, and kicks to the nuts while the Big Ten refs blithely ignore what's going on in front of them and swallow their whistles in deference to Saint Izzo of Lansing.

MRunner73

February 26th, 2021 at 12:20 PM ^

I like the "I'll take nothing for granted..." part. While sparty's winning streak has been impressive, they are winning ugly with their goon tactics. Michigan needs to be ready. I am assuming there will be a few technical fouls during our games against them.

mgoblue0970

February 26th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^

I'll take nothing for granted, especially when playing this bunch of Spartan goons

Totally agree.

On paper M should steamroll Staee.

Paper doesn't account for intangibles such as rivalries, Staee appears to be peaking right now, and internet board hubris.

I'm cautiously optimistic until scoreboard reads 00:00 and the good guys get the W

Oregon Wolverine

February 27th, 2021 at 1:09 AM ^

I usually have nothing good to say about Sparty, but Scottie Skiles was a warrior, guy had heart.  Sometimes a little overboard and nasty, but you knew that guy could will his team to victory on any given night, and that he’d rip his heart out to win, and if he lost he’d rip his heart out too.

I’d love to see that kind of desire consistently in the winged helmet. 

Qmatic

February 26th, 2021 at 12:09 AM ^

We just beat the team that 12 days ago beat them by 30 on their home court, by 22 today. This is how it will go:

Game 1: we win by 15-20 without it ever being close 

Game 2: first half a lot like today, and we pull away in the second half.

Game 3: they are playing for their lives and may even grab a halftime lead. We close out the second half with a 10 point win.

They miss the tournament because 1-3 in their last 4 games isn’t good enough

jmblue

February 26th, 2021 at 11:07 AM ^

This is what I expect:

Crisler game - we pull away in the second half and win by 20.

Breslin game - completely different officiating than at Crisler.  This is a dogfight that goes down to the wire.  We scrape out a last-minute win in a game featuring lots of hard fouls.

BTT - in between, about a 10-point win.  Also will feature hard fouls - hopefully no injuries.

MSU will make the tournament.  They just picked up two huge wins this week.  Getting swept by a #1 seed in Michigan isn't going to hurt them.