NCAA Hoops Recap: Sparty Contines to Struggle

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If you remember my post at the end of last week, I told you that there were two games to keep your eye on Friday night. For once in my life (just ask my wife), I was absolutely right. There were four top 25 games played on Friday night and the two that I guessed would be epic, ended up being just that.

#22 Maryland took it to #16 Illinois and ended up beating them 71 to 66. It will be interesting to see if this is the year that the Big 10 can actually do something in the tournament. It seems like in years past we have had quite a number of teams in the top 25, but then they fizzle come March (with a few exceptions). My Michigan State Spartans are a great example of that fact. They always seem to make it into the big dance, but then they immediately exit in the first round or so. There is going to be a point where the name Izzo isn't enough to earn them a spot.

Honestly, I didn't get to watch either of those games on Friday night. Instead, I was watching the live stream of my nieces game from down in Ohio. I love the fact that we have this technology now. It allows us to follow along even when we can't be there.

My niece was recently told that instead of just playing on the Varsity team she will now be playing three quarters on the Junior Varsity team and three quarters on the Varsity team. It may sound like a demotion,but trust me, it isn't. The coach simply wants to get her more play time so her skills stay sharp. She is the youngest player on the Varsity team and she isn't a starter, so I think he is prepping her to one day be a starter.

It was awesome to watch her play at the JV level. She clearly has learned a lot in the past year and she was basically directing her team to a win. The varsity game was close and she didn't get as much playing time, but they somehow pulled out a last second win. It was pretty amazing.

Saturday my attention was solely focused on the college football conference playoff games, but there were 7 top 25 basketball games played.

There was only one upset and it happened in the Big 10 conference. Unranked Rutgers took down #10 Indiana 63 to 48. That's a pretty big blow to a Hoosiers team that has been kind of hot lately. I have zero doubt they will get things figured out. With Purdue sitting in the #5 spot, they aren't going to let them be the only team from Indiana that is in the top 10.

I should also note that after a serious of shake ups in the top 5, Houston is now sitting in the #1 spot. They have been building towards this for several years now, so it isn't a surprise to me. How long they hold that spot is anyone's guess...

Sunday I did get the chance to watch a bit of college basketball. I was mostly focused on the Lions winning another game and chasing a wildcard berth, but there were some good hoops games on too.

Nine games in the top 25 to be exact on Sunday. I watched a bit of the #19 Kentucky versus unranked Michigan game. It was nice to see the Wolverines get beat. Especially given the success they have been having this season on the football side of things.

Kentucky is working their way back to the spot they held at the beginning of the season. It's nice to see them there quite honestly. My sister lived outside Lexington for a while, so I have a certain fondness for the Wildcats.

Unranked Virginia Tech took down #18 North Carolina. After starting the season at #1, the Tar Heels continue to struggle. That's part of the reason I hate being ranked so high at the beginning of the season. It almost seems inevitable that you only have one way to go and that is down. Unless of course you are looking at Gonzaga the last two years (not this year).

Last weekend and this weekend were a good one for Nebraska all around. Their football team finally won a game and knocked Iowa out of Big 10 championship contention, meanwhile their unranked basketball team took down #7 Creighton 63 to 53. What a stunner on the road for the Cornhuskers!

Finally, I sadly have to discuss the fact that #20 Michigan State fell to unranked Northwestern last night 63 to 70. At home as well. Talk about disgraceful. That #20 spot was just a placeholder anyway. They were already set to vacate that spot today after their loss earlier in the week to Notre Dame.

Make no mistake, Northwestern is a decent team. I just baffles me how lazy MSU tends to play at times. It's almost like they don't care. Which is a same because the fans clearly do. We deserve better. It looked like some of our injured players might have been returning last night, so I had some high hopes, but apparently they were unfounded.

Hauser continues to not be aggressive from what I was seeing. Michigan State has always struggled against Boo Buie on Northwestern. It's like he plays on a totally different level when he goes up against MSU.

Maybe it was just one of those nights where nothing was falling for them. I don't know, but we can't have too many more of those with Big 10 play just getting started.

The good news is, we have plenty of season left to improve. They just better take advantage of it.

Check back at the end of the week for the latest college hoops updates.

Penn State is going to be a tough match up for Sparty and they have their always contentious game against Oakland University. Sitting in second to last place in the Big 10 conference, they only have one way to go!


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