Spartans favored by 2 1/2 over Louisville in Elite Eight

Odds for the Elite Eight via Vegas Insider:

Kentucky -11 over Notre Dame
Arizona -1 over Wisconsin
Duke - 2 1/2 over Gonzaga

and... Michigan State -2 1/2 over Louisville

President Obama talks brackets and football excellence at Michigan State

Well, the ES has just basked in the glory of the Rose Bowl for the past month.  It's been tough to get back into Spartan hoops after witnessing victory in the Promised Land.

That said, the ES will start chiming in on Spartan hoops here in the coming days and weeks.  But, that brings to mind today.  I was presented a wonderful opportunity to go see POTUS sign the Farm Bill at Michigan State University today... and of course, he started out acknowledging how fantastic the Spartan athletic teams have played so far this academic year.  Obama singled out his need to "do some scouting..." for his hoops bracket; and, our hoops excellence combined with winning the Rose Bowl made us "greedy."  :)  Wow, watch below, very cool.  GO GREEN!

Hoops is back! Big Green stymies #7 Kansas

Loving Michigan State basketball, a nice tonic to the disappointing football season.  A nice pick-me-up watching the Big Green Machine kick some Jayhawk butt in Atlanta today.  That game was a rough defensive battle through the second half, and it was nice to see that old Izzo-esque defense come alive in the last five minutes.  Turning off the faucet at the end of the game is a staple of championship-Spartan teams... maybe this team's got it after shutting down #7 Kansas, 67-64.

Keith Appling was amazing on offense in the final few minutes, with a ridiculous scoop layup around a 7-footer in the final seconds, after previously stepping back to knock down a solid -three pointer.  I'm just loving the play of Brendan Dawson, who is the real deal with an all-around game, great hands on defense, great hops on the boards, and dynamic in the offensive post.  Derrick Nix looks real good on defense and on offense.   Nice, nice win after coming home from the airport hanger in Germany (MSU will win a special pre-season game, someday).

Basketball on grass SUCKS

Anyone watch that disaster of an Alamo Bowl last night?  Seemed like anytime either team (Baylor or Washington) touched the ball, they were going to score.  The 67-56 final score was NOT an overtime game, and the teams combined for over 1,400 total yards. It was absurd -- the defense was the WORST of any game the ES has ever seen.  Receivers wide open on both sides of the ball every single play, missed tackles (that #8 on Baylor defense is horrid) every play... the defensive line of Washington was embarrassing, not sure how many runs of 50+ yards Baylor had (440+ total yards rushing).   If it wasn't so terrible, it was hilarious.  Basketball on grass sucks.  That dude from Washington threw 5 TDs and ran for 2 more (that's 49 points)... and the Huskies still lost.   No defense = A terrible game to watch.

Carrier Classic.. video

With the really unbelievable, horrific, and difficult situation at Penn State, leaving to the real possibility of JoePa being canned, it is tough to get focused on football... let alone basketball. 

But it IS the Carrier Classic this week, and the NY Times ran some coverage, including some video of the USS Vincent.  Check it out

Patino is an IDIOT

Rick Pitino is an idiot, and even worse, he is a dangerous idiot.

Someone who is a coach, a mentor to our youth, just doesn't believe that concussions are a common occurrence. Let alone the fact that the research is better, the medical understanding is better, and the fact that students are larger and faster... but why bother? According to Pitino, if you get a concussion as a college athlete, you are just adding to the problem????

WHAT AN IDIOT. Watch and learn (around 2:50-3:20): "if you slightly run into a door, you get a concussion. Everyone has a concussion today."

Pitino should be ashamed for hisself. And he had a signing bonus at Lousiville for $8.9 million and has an annual salary of $4.5 million? HE IS PAID $12 MILLION TO LACK COMPASSION? What a total, dangerous dummy. You want some rational thought on it? Then, read here.

I would NEVER recommend anyone to send their kids to play at Louisville if he has no interest in understanding and sharing with athletes what the current risks and benefits are from college sports. Without an interest in the research in concussions, Pitino demonstrates his drive for victories at the expense of athletes' welfare. Pathetic.

$12 million and a total dumb-ass. As for me, this Patinoism signals the ES is in the wrong line of work.

MSU injury report vs Northwestern, men's basketball ranked consensus top 3

Early weather predictions show clear skies, but colder; 48 degrees and partly sunny for the noon kickoff vs Northwestern.

Injury report: Keith Nichol suffered a mild sprain of the elbow, but will play vs the Wildcats. Captain Kirk's ankle has healed and will start at QB for the Big Green. Two players done for the season: safety Roderick Jenrette (foot) and RB Glenn Winston (knee). WR Mark Dell (shoulder) is probable, but can he catch?

Early previews of Michigan State vs Northwestern -- Bleacher Report (MSU 21, NW 13); College Football News (4 of 5 pick MSU); ESPN/Adam Rittenberg (MSU 29, NW 23);

Big Ten Network revealed its power rankings, and hmmm... looks similar to the ES', with the Big Green at #5 in the conference.

Maybe it is too soon for basketball... but yer men's hoops national-runners up from a year ago, Michigan State, is ranked in the TOP 3 of nearly every single preseason publication, prognostication, or pundit.