To be a Michigan St. Fan

[gladdenguy]

My gosh, imagine your team going to 6 of the last 12 final fours.
You have one of the best coaches who will leave probably on his terms, if not, the program must be in really bad shape. But that will never happen anyway.
You have a great student section and home court.
You have a wonderful, rich, basketball history.
And today, this comes out.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5099577

Life must be real nice being a Spartan fan.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

My gosh, imagine your team going to 6 of the last 12 final fours.
You have one of the best coaches who will leave probably on his terms, if not, the program must be in really bad shape. But that will never happen anyway.
You have a great student section and home court.
You have a wonderful, rich, basketball history.
And today, this comes out.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5099577

Life must be real nice being a Spartan fan.

Link doesn't work but I agree being a MSU fan must be nice

[gladdenguy]

It was a link saying Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers will be forgoing the NBA draft to come back to Michigan St..

[Michigan Muskie]

Excellent. Now if we can just keep Crawford, we are looking at a Xavier / MSU National Championship game. :D

[XmAn06]

Excellent. Now if we can just keep Crawford, we are looking at a Xavier / MSU National Championship game. :D

I'm just throwing this out there (since I know Izzo recruits heavily in and around Michigan - and I believe Lucas & Summers are from in state)... Does anyone think Jordan (being from Detroit) is keeping an eye on things like this? Also, does anyone think (or know) if Jordan is friends with - or talks to - any of these guys he may have grown up playing with?

Just a completely random thought - no basis in fact whatsoever... Just wondering if anyone else thinks he may be watching this stuff while deciding whether to withdraw his name or not...

Also - here is a link to the MSU story - http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13230364/michigan-states-summers-lucas-to-return-next-season

And a similar one from Baylor - http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13224954/baylors-leading-scorer-dunn-to-return-for-senior-season?tag=headlines;collegebasketball

[Xman95]

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Izzo and MSU. Great coach, great program. And it seems they do things the right way.

[smileyy]

I'm guessing this has been huge for Michican St'.s academic/athletic program:


(Steve) Smith is well known for his charitable pursuits, including a USD $2.5 million gift in 1997 to his alma mater, Michigan State University, where he was a star guard under coach Jud Heathcote. Smith's donation helped to fund the Clara Bell Smith Student Academic Center, which is named for his mother. This was the largest single donation by a professional athlete to his former school in history.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_%28basketball%29#Charitable_work

I remember being seriously impressed when he did that.

[xubball93]

I love Tom Izzo - he comes across as humble, genuine and classy. He appears to have a great relationship with his players. And he is a winner.
BTW, did anyone catch the frustrated MSU player tell his teammate "Help me dumbass!" during the Butler game. I thought it was pretty funny. I also appreciated seeing that same kid apologize and hug that same teammate at the next time-out.

[joebba]

I agree. Michigan St has got a great program under IZZO. He usually burns me on my brackets every year.

I though early rumors of him taking another position elsewhere was just plain silly.

I respect him more than any of the other "big name" coaches with the level of success he has had.

[Michigan Muskie]

I agree. Michigan St has got a great program under IZZO. He usually burns me on my brackets every year.

People who don't circle Michigan State to survive a deep tournament run usually end up regretting it. Really, the same can be said for Xavier. It's just that MSU doesn't have that Final Four block. Izzo is iconic in these parts, and is a visible supporter of the entire MSU athletic program. (He attends most, if not all home football games and is often interviewed by the local news during or after the games.) Izzo is good people.

[MADXSTER]

And Michigan St has 5 star PF Adrein Payne and 5 star Will Barton coming on board next year.

[Juice]

And Michigan St has 5 star PF Adrein Payne and 5 star Will Barton coming on board next year.

Different from the Will Barton going to Memphis this year?

[smileyy]

When a guy's made 6 Final Four's in 12 years (including a national championship), I don't know why anyone would think he'd take another job.

"Tom Izzo to _______________" is the BCS version of the "Xavier is just a flash-in-the-pan mid-major" diss.