72,000 fans rocked Ford Field last night awaiting the final game of the NCAA tournament that began with 65 teams vying for bragging rights of a national championship.
MSU which was ranked 7th pre-season earned a #2 seed after winning the Big 10 Title. However their loss in the Big 10 Tournament early on to OSU cost them the #1 seed.
But an improbable 5-0 run in the tournament landed them into the big game. In fact, Tom Izzo's teams have the best record in the past 11 years getting to the final dance.
The crowd was raucous. They knew UNC was the favorite by 71/2 points. But hey, this was home court for MSU and over 75% of the fans were wearing green. The marching band was playing the fight song and the student section was leading the Go White, Go Green chant. Life was good being a Spartan.
Until the game started.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
That's how UNC started. Before you sat down to get back to your $6 peanuts and $4 bottle of Aquafina (no kidding), the score was 31-11.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
Everything went in for them. Everything bounced off for us. They stole the ball relentlessly and MSU had more turnovers in the first half then the Pillsbury doughboy.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
They made 3-pointers from Cobo Hall. Their D was so good, Lucas and others didn't know what hit them. Izzo was so upset, he wasn't upset. He knew early on this game was lost. And so did the crowd of green and white.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
Before you guzzled your $6.50 Coke, UNC had a 26 point lead and finished the half with the biggest point total in the history of the tournament. Statistics suck when you are on the wrong side of them.
The best State could do was lose by 17. The best team won. Izzo himself stated that they were the best team and if State had a chance at all, it was to prevent them from playing their best game.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
Of course us Spartans are proud of the team's accomplishments. They were good for Detroit, Michigan, the Big 10 and MSU. Now tuition will only go up 6.7% instead of 6.9%. But what's worse than being so close to the end goal and losing? What's worse than doing your best and losing? And what's worse than people telling you that you did so good and accomplished so much but. . .
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
MSU didn't cut down the nets. They shook hands with the victors and rode out of town back to East Lansing this morning for a celebration of sorts. Perhaps Granholm attended. Michigan's economy and stature in the U.S. wouldn't of even made it to the NIT let alone the tournament. If we really want to change the face of our state, perhaps Izzo should run for governor. We might not be the #1 state in the country, but #2 doesn't sound so bad right now.
Swoosh.
Happy Tuesday!
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