Highlight of the Night – #7 MSU Spartans defeat #3 Oklahoma 62-58 – I have to admit after watching all the NCAA Tournament games going into Friday night’s games, I felt like a marathon runner that “hit a wall.” Waiting for Michigan State’s game, I had no idea how I was going to make it to midnight watching the games and by the looks of Michigan State in the first half, they might have also “hit a wall.” Thankfully, they were able to regroup and reenergize during halftime and played the 2nd half with tremendous energy. MSU, back in the Sweet 16 for the 4th straight year, was led by Travis Trice (24 points), Denzel Valentine (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Branden Dawson (6 points, 11 rebounds) and, in the 2nd half of the game, all three had pivotal plays in leading MSU to victory. Unlike, MSU that started slow and finished strong, Oklahoma started the game shooting 8-11, but then proceeded to shoot 12-44 from the field. MSU did not take the lead in the game until a little over nine minutes remaining in the 2nd half, when Branden Dawson made a great shot to give MSU the lead 44-42 just after Denzel Valentine in the previous play had hit a 3-pointer to tie the game. Both teams had several minutes of scoreless basketball, but Coach Izzo, with his March magic, had players that made the baskets when they counted. It was between the time of seven to five minutes remaining when you felt that Michigan State was now in charge of the game. During that time, Costello, on a missed shot, dunked after an offensive rebound, Valentine hit a 3-pointer, and Trice hit a 3-pointer with five minutes remaining to give MSU the lead 54-49. Coach Izzo’s team this year was his worst free-throw shooting team in his 20 seasons coaching, but, once again when it mattered down the stretch, Valentine and Trice went 6-6 from the free-throw line to seal the victory. With the victory, #7 MSU moves on to its 2nd straight Elite 8 and will play #4 Louisville on Sunday. As a #7 seed, MSU is the lowest-seeded team remaining in the tournament, but I am still betting on Mr. March, Coach Izzo, to win his ninth Elite 8 and join the Final Four playing in Indianapolis, where he won the NCAA Championship in 2000.
With this victory, MSU with a record of 62-27 in the tournament, moves up to 7th place in the record books and Coach Izzo is now 45-16 in NCAA tournament games.
There were other games playing last night, but honestly with my exhaustion I was unable to get very enthusiastic about any of the games (not quite sure if that was due to my exhaustion or the games not being as exciting as Thursday night). Quick sum up of the other games: #2 Gonzaga defeated #11 UCLA 74-62; #1 Duke defeated #5 Utah 63-57; and #4 Louisville defeated #8 NC State 75-65. The Elite 8 games on Sunday will be #7 MSU against #4 Louisville (CBS, 2:20pm) and #1 Duke vs. #2 Gonzaga (CBS, 5:05pm).
Loved the NBA commercial with Stephen Curry, “The Dance Never Ends,” announcing the NBA playoffs begin on April 18.
Amazing, I still have three of my Final Four teams (MSU, Notre Dame, Wisconsin) playing in the Elite 8 and so does Gabby (Wisconsin, Duke, Kentucky).
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