I realize this is complete heresy but should we root for Sparty tomorrow?

Submitted by jbrandimore on
I haven't watched much of Kansas this year, but we have to match up better with Sparty than Kansas, right? By the time MSU and Kansas tip off, we will already know if we are in the Sweet 16. Before we reflexively say "no way" do consider that the Spartys root against us, even against their self interest. I haven't convinced myself to root for Sparty, but I do think we need to emotionally prepare for this just in case it's necessary. Thoughts?

KennyHiggins

March 18th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^

If you'd been at the M-Sparty 2015 Football game, or anywhere near Ann Arbor in the aftermath, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY YOU COULD ROOT FOR THOSE A-HOLES.  I know I'm shouting, but that left a scar, that will last in my family for generations.

UMForLife

March 18th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^

Sparty will follow their recent trend and lose to good teams and improve their RPI. Hollis would be able to use that next year to give them a 5 seed. /s

No rooting for Sparty or better who cares about them. Ignore them and they will be mad.

EJG

March 18th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^

While I will never overtly root for Sparty, I will admit I have felt a slight bit of joy for my Spartan friends when they win.



And that is why I have purged my Spartan friends.  Now I no longer have that problem.

Bo248

March 18th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^

And like any of their fans are rooting for us?

I'm in for us winning the next 5 games, doesn't matter to me who we beat. Just win each game. The OSU game yesterday is just a forge game to continue to harden our steel. Hard now makes hard easier in the games ahead.

victors2000

March 18th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^

Back in the day - way back in the day - Buckeye fans cheered for Michigan when Tom Harmon and the Wolverines smashed them 40-0. Nowadays people embrace anger. Love...hell give it a couple more years and they might take that word out of the dictionary, or change it's meaning to something like " an irrational emotional reponse of unbounding friendship. See Psychosis." I don't necessariy root for other Big Ten teams but I recognize them as our 'Brothers in arms" so to speak and if they do good it reflects well on the Big Ten which reflects well on us. That said I rarely have EVER root for the a Buckeye win. The Spartans I can tolerate. Usually.

Muttley

March 18th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^

like that, I certainly would tip my hat.

As Harmon had promised, the Buckeyes did not complete a pass against him, and he returned one of his three interceptions for a touchdown.

But Harmon's defensive prowess is only part of the story. He scored three touchdowns in all, passed for two more, and kicked four extra points. He carried the ball 25 times for 139 yards. He completed 11 of his 22 passes for 151 yards. He averaged 50 yards on three punts, and returned three punts for 81 yards. In all, he played 59 minutes and accounted for 371 total yards.

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112003aaa.html

Hard-Baughlls

March 18th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^

Don't think Sparty has put two solid performances in a row togethe all year.  They just beat a Miami team that probably deserved a 12 seed at best, and was probably NIT quality in reality (but ACC conf strength carried them in).

They will get their doors blown off by Kansas - a consistent, well coached team with an elite college point guard.  Sparty can't go off from 3 or run smooth offense like us, so much harder for them to pull upsets when they don't have equivalent talent to their opponent.

victors2000

March 18th, 2017 at 11:48 AM ^

freshman have really stepped up. That was a 20 point win against Miami, and that was after they fell behind by double digits. I think they are going to give Kansas all they can handle. I never thought of the Jayhawks as a 'smart' basketball team. Izzo's brand of ball will give them fits it the Spartans do it right.

aiglick

March 18th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

I'll take some hits for this but I'm rooting Big Ten. It gets tiring hearing how much your conference sucks. Besides it would be sweet to beat them head to head in the Elite 8 and prove definitively we are the better team.

Edit: assuming of course we make it past Louisvilles d Sweet 16 opponent which is by no means guaranteed.

Zoltanrules

March 18th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^

Kansas at the Michigan Theater was amazing. Steve Walsh doing handstands on his keyboards while playing, and then doing repeated handsprings... and screw whining Izzo.

 

M-Dog

March 18th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^

As a practical non emotional matter, Beilein's teams do better with teams that are not familiar with them. It does us no good to play a team that has already seen is this year

BlueWon

March 18th, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^

And, anyway, would love the chance to wipe the floor with Sparty in the dance on the big stage. I don't think they can guard us.

Sam1863

March 18th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^

As much as I like it when bad things happen to the East Lansing Remedial School of Sod Farming and Animal Husbandry, I have a vague memory of something similar:

Some years back, there was a situation where a UM football win would have been advantageous to Staee. (I think it was a game against tosu). But even though it would have benefitted his team, good ol' Mike Dantoni wouldn't - simply would NOT - pull for a Wolverine victory. He was just too childish to suck it up.

I realize that this situation is not exactly the same as that one. But I'd just hate to think that our actions were similar to Mark of Magnesia's in any way, shape, or form.

leftrare

March 18th, 2017 at 12:06 PM ^

I didn't realize they were playing in the tournament. I have a kid's birthday party to go to so if they're playing from 3-9, I won't be able to watch.

VAWolverine

March 18th, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^

Mr. Brandimore- what you’ve just posted is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent post were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this thread is now dumber for having read your suggestion. I award you no points, you will have points deducted hugely and may God have mercy on your soul

allintime23

March 18th, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^

State's success in the tournament has come primarily from higher seeds losing in their path. In 2013 it was the opposite for us. You can't control march madness , that's why it's so great. That said, never route for your rival. It makes you look weak.

Human Torpedo

March 18th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^

We're 6-2 all-time in the series against Jayhawks. Despite all the success they've had that dwarfs ours in comparison. Granted we only tend to face them when we have actually good teams but still, historically we tend to not be intimitated by their blueblood glamor. If we go as far as the Elite Eight, I say bring them on

mickblue

March 18th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^

When pigs fly. In other words no way in hell ever.

And I'm sure they feel the same way about us.

I'm thankful they are again sucking hind tit in football,

after several miserable years. I honestly think

JH owns their ass going forward. OSU requires

more work.

StephenRKass

March 18th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^

The OP has conflated two things. Rooting for Sparty, and wanting what is best for Michigan. Wanting what is best for Michigan trumps everything. I will NEVER root for / cheer for / support MSU. But in this case, I like the match up with MSU better for Michigan. That means I am rooting for KU to lose. Beyond that, there are two lesser items to consider. Personally, I want the Big Ten to win as many games as possible. It is better for the conference, and therefore better for Michigan. Second, I believe that for Michigan State to lose to Michigan will cause them much more pain than losing to Kansas.

The Krusty Kra…

March 18th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^

There is so much anger in this thread. All that matters is that Michigan beats Louisville. If MSU makes it to the Sweet 16, whatever. That's their program meeting expectations. Us making it to the Sweet 16? After the ups and downs of this year and winning 6 games in the 10 days after a plane crash? That is the stuff legend is made of. 

CLord

March 18th, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^

Unless we are winning 99.999% of our recruiting battles and on-field/court battles against our rivals, we should never, ever root for them, because any success they achieve improves their recruiting, which typically means they are stealing talent away from us.  I wish OSU, PSU, MSU and ND were 0-12 every year.

hail2victors9

March 18th, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^

I think it's simple, really.  If a Sparty or OSU win directly correlates with Michigan's opportunity to obtain something of value that it could not otherwise obtain, you root for Sparty or OSU.  

I.E. the 2011-2012 basketball season where MSU winning over OSU forced a three-way tie for first with us, Sparty, and OSU, but if OSU beat MSU, OSU won the B1G outright. Same thing in football, two seasons ago.  If OSU would've beaten MSU in Columbus and we would've beaten OSU in the Big House, we would've gone to Indy.  With Sparty winning and beating PSU the following week, it was out of our hands.

Perkis-Size Me

March 18th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^

This question is bad and you should feel bad. 

I want MSU to lose by 100, and I want Izzo to whine and complain about it all the way back to that shithole of a town he lives in called East Lansing.