In the big Champions Classic recently played in Chicago, the Michigan State Spartans triumphed over the number one ranked Wildcats of Kentucky in a thrilling contest that left the fans on both sides of the court breathless after four quarters of top flight NCAA Hoops action.
Tom Izzo’s well coached crew played the Wildcats close and came away with an exciting 78-74 victory in Chicago and became the team to beat in college basketball this season.
Next up is the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic taking place in Brooklyn next weekend where the Michigan State will take on the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Although VT lost their home opener against USC Upstate, the Hokies are now 2-0 SU and ATS.
The winner of the Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State game will then take on the winner of the game between Seton Hall and Oklahoma. Other early season tournament action could well include a matchup between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the Cardinals of the University of Louisville taking place in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Handicappers think so much of the Spartans this year that they are putting up outrageous numbers for them to live up to. For example, against Columbia Michigan State was listed at 23.5 point favorites, they only won by 9 and then they were 22.5 point favorites taking on Portland.
The problem with ranking NCAA basketball teams this early in the season is that no one is playing any one, with a very few exceptions. It’s great that some of the smaller schools get to make an appearance on the national stage, but, week after week of Bambi verses Godzilla gets dull. Why do we have to wait each year until after Christmas for the real Hoops Action to get underway?
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo commented recently about attendance at these early season games. He even begged Spartan fans to give away their tickets if they couldn’t make the game saying, “I’ve got thousands of people who are dying to come.” The legendary coach said that the small crowds had an effect on a lot of people including him.
Perhaps if Michigan State were playing a team that the fans recognized, attendance would be on the rise. In any case, this season marks only the third time in the history of the program that Michigan State basketball has climbed to the number one spot in the AP rankings. Can they hang on?
