Nix dominates in win over Texas

Watch out, Big Ten. If Derrick Nix and the Spartan bigs play like tonight, the Big Green will be tough to beat. Nix with 25 points and 11 rebounds, in his best game as a Spartan in a nice 11-pt win over Texas...

LIVE CHAT! #20 Spartans host Texas 2pm ET Sat

MSU favored by 10 over Texas in M-hoops tomorrow

Right now, VegasInsider has Michigan State a 10-pt favorite (-10) at home over Texas in men's hoops.... surprise that it is that large of spread.  If the ES does NOT go to the game (likely), then we'll have a live chat here at the Enlightened Spartan.

Why not go to the game?  We have snow, the first time for real this year, about 2 inches over the past day.  Nice and cold and wet.  Sucks.

Basketball? Who cares

Luckily, we can always count on a rugged Big Ten season and the NCAA tournament. Time to put non-conference 2010 men's hoops to bed. It was pretty ugly vs. Syracuse and Texas, the Big Green couldn't hit a shot if their lives depended on it.

Let's concentrate on football. 8 days and counting until we get to kick Nick Saban around.

LIVE CHAT: MSU vs Texas hoops

Cover It Live: MSU vs Texas at 7 pm tonight.

Predictions? MSU vs Texas

Rex predicts a 77-74 MSU victory over Texas tonite. Yet, CBS Sports predicts 76-74 Texas... The Spread predicts an MSU victory, despite the Big Green as a 5 1/2-pt favorite. And, Cappers pickes predicts a 68-65 Texas win.

Da ES? MSU comes out after a few days off by taking it out on the Horns. Lucas and Summers will get off. MSU 82 Texas 70.

BJ out for Cap One bowl; Jay Bilas sighting

Unfortunately, as reported by ESPN, wideout BJ Cunningham will be OUT of the Capital One Bowl due to a broken foot suffered in a practice injury on Saturday: "Michigan State junior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, who led the team with 50 receptions for 611 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season, will be sidelined for the Jan. 1, 2011, Capital One Bowl game against No. 15 Alabama with a broken foot. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Cunningham suffered the injury during bowl practice on Saturday, Dec. 18, and underwent successful surgery the next day. He is expected to completely recover in time to participate in spring practice."

Damn, he has been a stud, particularly in the Penn State and Purdue games.

BILAS AND IZZO SIGHTING
So, here I am at Spartan Hall of Fame Cafe.... and who sneaks in to the coaches corner of the bar? None other than ESPN's Jay Bilas, followed soon after by Tom Izzo and his kid. It's 4:15 pm. They are still here...

PS - he doesn't have as much hair as you see at right. He's like almost bald.

Bilas must be in for the #12 Michigan State vs #18 Texas stint, tomorrow night at 7 pm on ESPN 2.

Live Chat: MSU vs Texas hoops

Just messing around, we'll see how much the ES chimes in on this. But, I'm at home with a six-pack. Tirhg now, UT 21, MSU 16. Let's see if the ES jinx em. ES sez we still win - how about 82-80. We're in the game just fine now, playing alright.

OH well, Spartans ran out of gas, 79-68 loss to Texas. That's ok - we'll be fine come March.

Texas favored by 7 vs Michigan State in hoops

Looks like Texas is a TD favorite (-7) in men's hoops against the Spartans tomorrow night in Austin. Meanwhile the Big Green moves up to #9 in the latest AP and USA Today polls (the women are #16).

AP Top 25

1. Kansas (55) 10-0 1,611

2. Texas (7) 10-0 1,543

3. Kentucky (1) 11-0 1,477

4. Purdue 10-0 1,422

5. Syracuse (2) 11-0 1,397

6. West Virginia 8-0 1,290

7. Duke 9-1 1,249

8. Villanova 10-1 1,175

9. Michigan State 9-2 1,046

10. North Carolina 8-3 959

11. Connecticut 7-2 950

12. Kansas State 10-1 810

13. New Mexico 12-0 707

14. Georgetown 8-1 676

15. Mississippi 10-1 624

16. Tennessee 8-2 616

17. Ohio State 9-2 562

18. Florida 8-2 519

19. Texas A&M 9-2 320

20. Butler 8-3 315

21. Temple 9-2 244

22. Washington 7-2 194

23. Texas Tech 9-1 192

24. Clemson 10-2 151

25. Gonzaga 8-3 146

Others Receiving Votes Florida State 127, UNLV 126, Wisconsin 96, Northwestern89, Georgia Tech 76, St. John's 53, Miami (FL) 50, Missouri State 45, Dayton 39, UAB 29, Oklahoma State 29, Charlotte 29, Saint Mary's 21, Brigham Young 20, Wichita State 18, Memphis 16, Tulsa 12, North Carolina State 11, Cincinnati 9, Mississippi State 8, Baylor 6, Wake Forest 4, William & Mary 3, Virginia Tech 3, California 3, Richmond 2, Western Carolina 2, Army 1, Northern Iowa 1, Pittsburgh 1, Rhode Island 1.

A Lone Star Spartan Holiday Season

Time for the Big Green to put that push that toasted desert of a state into the Gulf of Mexico this holiday season. Michigan State faces Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl on January 2, and tomorrow will travel down to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns on the hardwood. We all know Santa is a Spartan, and he will bring a can of whoop-ass to Texas this week.

So, the Spartans are 8 point underdogs in the Alamo Bowl to Texas Tech. Started out as 6 1/2 point 'dogs, now it is up to 8. Everyone is putting their money on the high-flying Red Raiders -- and who could blame 'em? With the suspensions to umpteen Spartan players, two wideouts and RB suspended who would have likely seen playing time... yes, Mr. MD certainly has his work cut out.

BIG HOLIDAY HOOPS SHOWDOWN: BRING ON TEXAS

The Michigan State Spartans - Texas Longhorns shootout is scheduled on Tuesday, at 7 pm. You can watch the game on ESPN 2. Of course, #2 and 10-0 Texas is coming off a big 103-90 victory over #11 North Carolina before 38,000 fans at the new stadium for the Cowboys. Noone hit that big jumbotron TV with a basketball. The ES can't find a line on the game yet, but last year the Horns were favored by 5 1/2 when we went down there and whipped their arse.

MSU has won the last three meetings between the teams; In fact, Michigan State has never lost to UT during the regular season. In each of the previous meetings, Texas was ranked higher yet Izzo and the Big Green prevailed the last three times. Time to make it a fourseome?

• Dec 20, 2008. #19 MSU 67, #5 Texas 63. at Houston, TX.
• Dec. 22, 2007. #9 MSU 78, #4 Texas 72. at Auburn Hills, MI.
• Nov. 16, 2006. #NR MSU 63, #19 Texas 61. at New York, NY.
• Mar. 30, 2003. #1 Texas 85, #7 MSU 76. NCAA Elite Eight.

YELLOW BELLIES ARE IRRELEVANT
Yes, the rankings are not out yet, but at least we can look at Jeff Sagarin to see where the Big Ten stands so far... and, Michigan, ranked at #162, is irrelevant as a basketball team this year, once again. The garbage they call basketball in Ann Arbor proves that the Big Least and WVU are no match for the Big Ten... but making it to the NCAA tournament once every 10 years ain't so bad now, is it?

Here's Sagarin, through Sunday. This week, Michigan State is the only Big Ten team facing competition ranked by the media poll (AP) or coaches poll (USA Today). And, when considering Sagarin ratings, MSU faces #1 Texas.. the next closest competition is Minnesota facing #48 San Diego State.

Purdue #5. Next up: Southern Illinois.
Wisconsin #17. Next up: Wisc-Milwaukee, Illinois-Chicago.
Ohio State #19. Next up: Cleveland St.
Big Green #26. Next up: #1 Texas
Minnesota #39. Next up: San Diego St.
Northwestern #42. Next up: Central Connecticut St.
Illinois #78. Next up: Missouri.
Joe Pa #142. Next up: American Univ.
Michigan #162. Next up: Coppin St.
Indiana #175. Next up: Loyola-MD, Bryant
Iowa #192. Next up: S. Carolina St.