Michigan State 59, Northern Iowa 52: MSU to Elite 8, again

The Spartans are one step away from the promised land, again. Michigan State's Korie Lucious filled in the for the injured All-American Kalin Lucas, and played the best game of his career... efficient with the hoops and minimizing turnovers, engineering a 59-52 victory over Northern Iowa. Lucious (10 pts, 4 asts, 4 stls, 6 rebs) was excellent and avoided the turnover bug that he's been accustomed to all year. He played in control all game long. His spin around jump shot with 1:30 left was huge. And, Raymar Morgan played like a monster in the end, with a gorgeous he-man shot in the paint. The best player? Durrell Summers (19 pts, 7 rebs) made timely shot after timely shot. But, it was the Michigan State defense that played just excellent all game long.

How good was the defense? The Spartans held Northern Iowa scoreless from the field in the last 10:22, and NIU shot just 24% (5-21) in the second half. Beautiful. MSU was outrebounded 17-10 in the first half, but turned the tables and outrebounded NIU 26-9 in the second half.

And the last Big Ten team standing is? ..... MICHIGAN STATE. In all his brackets, the ES picked MSU to the final four. One win away, baby. Bring on Tennessee, 2:20 pm EST on Sunday.



MSU hoops on aircraft carrier

It looks like the game on the aircraft carrier may still be in play... on 11/11/11, Veterans Day. MSU would play North Carolina and Navy plays Air Force on the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy in Jacksonville, Florida.

FIRED UP!!!!

GO BIG GREEN! On to the Elite 8!!!!

The ES is JACKED UP for the game tonite, a spanking of Northern Iowa is in the ES' crystal ball. See u at the Peanut Barrel.

National Predictions: Michigan State vs Northern Iowa

#5 Michigan State (26-8) vs #9 Northern Iowa (31-4)
Friday, 9:37 pm EST
CBS Sports

Predictions: ESPN/Dick Vitale (MSU); Freep (MSU 66-59); Lansing St Journal (MSU 65-59); Mlive (MSU 66-62); Rivals/Yahoo (NIU 65-62) ; Bet-Firms (NIU 63-57); Bang the Book (NIU); ESPN/Earnon Brennan (MSU); Point-Spreads (MSU); Gather (NIU); Fox Sports; Bleacher Report (NIU 72-66); Fan IQ (MSU 72-68); College Hoops Net (MSU); Associated Content (NIU 65-59); Chicago Tribune (NIU); Detroit News

Enlightened Spartan: It is tough to think Northern Iowa can keep on their unbelievable run. They are a great basketball team and MSU will need to play its best to win. But, a healthier Allen & Roe, and with time to game plan for coach Izzo, and with Izzo's tourney success.... well, chalk this one up to Michigan State. Player of the Game? Raymar Morgan, again.

ES prediction: MSU 64, Northern Iowa 60.

Statistical Match Up:

MSU Category NIU

26-8 Record 30-4
72.9 Scoring 63.6
64.4 Opp. scoring 55.0
8.5 Margin 8.6
.473 FG% .430
.406 Opp. FG % .406
.343 3-pt% .356
.330 Opp. 3-pt% .332
5.0 3-pt/game 6.7
6.8 Opp. 3-pt/g 5.8
.684 FT% .761
+9.0 Reb margin +2.8
-1.4 TO diff. +1.6
6.6 Steals 5.6
3.2 Blocks 2.0