The Big Ten is in position to win its fourth straight ACC/Big Ten after winning four of the six matchups on Tuesday night.
The conference showed its basketball strength, getting big wins by top-ranked Indiana over North Carolina and then No. 3 Michigan over N.C. State.
The Big Ten won eight of the 12 matchups a year ago to earn its third straight challenge win after the ACC dominated the first decade of it.
Michigan State has a chance to help the Big Ten’s cause when it takes on Miami tonight in what will be the first meeting between the schools. MSU coach Tom Izzo called Miami one of the most talented teams the Spartans will face in regards to NBA talent, putting them in the same category as Kansas.
Miami is coached by Jim Larranga, who led George Mason to a NCAA Tournament victory over Izzo and the Spartans in 2006.
Izzo added this about the challenge during his weekly presser Monday.
“As far as the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, by next year that thing is gonna be so goofy I don’t know if anybody will know who’s playing who with all the (conference) changes,” he said. “It’s always something good. It’s gonna be different playing a different team that we’ve never played before.”
Graham Couch writes today that the ACC/Big Ten Challenge is a good test but decides little.
Here are Tuesday’s results and tonight’s schedule of games.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS (Big Ten 4, ACC 2)
No. 1 Indiana 83, No. 14 North Carolina 59
No. 3 Michigan 79, No. 18 N.C. State 72
No. 21 Minnesota 77, Florida State 68
Virginia Tech 95, Iowa 79
Maryland 77, Northwestern 57
Nebraska 79, Wake Forest 63
TODAY’S GAMES
Virginia at Wisconsin
Purdue at Clemson
No. 13 MSU at Miami
Georgia Tech at No. 22 Illinois
Boston College at Penn State
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 2 Duke
Also with the Jenison Field House game upcoming in a couple weeks, what in your mind was the most memorable moment from the venue? We are working on a listing of those moments for an upcoming edition. Leave a comment here with your moment or shoot me an e-mail at bcalloway@lsj.com.
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My most memorable moment Brian is I worked security at IM-west in 79 , after the parade Jud and the team had a pep rally. The fire marshall was losing it because two many people were trying to cram in. Jenison had the old crank windows at the top. Students were climbing up the trees trying to get in the windows. So I was assigned a window overlooking the top of the south key and my job was to close the window crank tight and not let anybody else in.
Man, I can barely remember that far back in any detail… IIRC our IM team played a semifinal at Jenison (we lost) in’76. I then moved to Lansing in ’77 after that and commuted to MSU Stores to work 30 hrs a week and finish classes (MSU Stores was the U’s postoffice/distribution center for ALL incoming merchandise) and as a working poor student with little time or money, sadly, I never saw Earvin, Gregory, Jay and the gang play at Jen.
I did see some awesome concerts at Jenison. My GF’s roomate at the time was the head of the Student Entertainment group who booked the shows and held the after parties, if the bands were willing. The tickets were dirt cheap from her roomie (don’t ask about the details…LOL). My favs were Bonnie Raitt opening for Little Feat, then coming on stage to play together for a few tunes together and the other was the 5th row center seats I had for Jackson Brown’s “Running on Empty” tour with David Lindley on guitar.
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Saw the last 5 minutes of the first half and 2nd half of the IU/UNC game last night and boy – what a blow out. IU was bombing the 3s and running FBs left and right. Scary, very scary.
Nebraska won handily?? What’s next–Penn State to the NIT?
Sorry about you disagreeing with my football post, was just trying to be positive due to 50 wins in 6 years, I think he hit 50 Saturday night but have not checked on it yet.
Dantonio is indeed 50-28 with the Spartans.
A South Niles CC team, in the early 70′s, came to Jension with Adrian Dantly. Spartans won. That was the beginning on Diggie’s dislike of playing against the Spartans which ws topped by EJ’s win over his #1 seed in the ’79 tourney (which is why they won’t schedule the Spartans in Basketball)
Joe Rexrode tried to talk with him about that when he was hear for game day, I forgot the text of the conversation but I think Digger told Joe that he was only a little boy in 79 or something like that. Maybe 89 can dig up that post.
I have a two-part answer, but can only use one hyperlink per post in this format. Here’s the thread
http://db.lsj.com/blogswp/hey_joe/2011/02/19/digger-sets-the-record-straight/
with the Digger-Joe exchange [end of root post]…
… Ten days later, a Hey Joe reader impressed Joe with some research on Digger’s claims re: the Irish-MSU rivalry. Joe calls the reader “Columbo”–and publicized his e-mail here:
http://db.lsj.com/blogswp/hey_joe/2011/03/01/double-checking-digger/
Spartans win tonight and B1G goes 4-2 again, only fly in that ointment is if the Refs get intimidated in Durham.
Does anyone know if Dick Vitale makes any money from Duke?
Don;t know about that; but, I am loving it that he is absolutely mortified that the ACC and Big East are being dominated by B1G teams.
Looking back – Jenison was great b/c of how close U felt to the action on the court. I have a hard time remembering much back then, including the UM/ MSU game @ Jenison as I had thrown back a few too many pops that night, but Skiles mercilessly ripping Antoine”the judge” Joubert saying “U can’t guard me, fat boy”, “U better call for help, fat boy”, ect. So much fun to watch. The other game was when Rumeal Robinson came to Jenison – we chanted him “Remedial” & he teared up, poor little wolvie. Unfortunately, the final score was not what we were hoping for & his life after bball is not what any of us would want for anyone including even a former wolvie. I was in the transition era from Jenison (mostly) to Breslin – my last year @ MSU – I saw the 1st public event held @ Breslin. Anyone know what that was?????????
Dont know I was home for Thanksgiving and saw Matt Stiegenga probably spelled it wrong and crew beat Auburn on the Friday after Thanksfgiving but the building opened two weeks before that on 11/09/89 I dont know what the first event was then as I lived in Dallas.
81 – It was before the building had been completely finished & as I said earlier – it was the massed pipes & drums of the 51st Highlanders (The Black Watch) on their 250th anniversary NA tour. A buddy of mine of Scottish extraction heard the pipes playing on campus & grabbed me to find the piper. We found out that they were playing Breslin & he dragged me to the concert. MSU’s band was in attendance to watch the professionals do their thing & had a drum off against the Black Watch which was pretty cool to see. I think it was spring semester of 1989 or early fall semester 1989. I just can’t remember. I what I do remember is the Bres looking pretty bare inside – like a huge chunk of concrete!
Thanks, it had to be Nov 9
Hey M Go Blow this is the Couch Headline today, not very positive almost sounds like he is hoping for us to lose???
Couch on Fire Blog Buzz
Tonight might not go well for MSU at Miami, but this stretch should benefit Spartans in long run
He has a really big cob up a lower aperture.
You just have to remember that Cracker knows even less about Basketball than he does about football. With the exception of Ohio beating Paris Hilton last year in the first round of the NCAA’s, has a MAC team ever gotten that far before, certainly not my 2nd Alma Mater in Kzoo. My 3rd actually was national runner up one year with twin towers of Artis Gilmore and Pembroke Burroughs, the War College doesn’t play sports
You must be talking Jacksonville State I remember rooting for Gilmore against UCLA I think he made it competitive.
No, Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. They now have a Varsity Lacrosse team that will beat Paris Hilton like an old wool blanket on wash day.
I would guess he is trying to maintain an air of impartiality as a member of the media and not be an MSU “cheerleader”. I honestly believe our Spartans find their groove with returning ball handlers and win this one easily. I’m thinking 10+ point victory (I am biased) with a breakout performance from one of our bigs and another solid showing from Mr. Appling, while finally having some support from another guard or two. This year’s team is as good as any group we’ve had in a while and deeper than people realize. All of this playing time by our bench in the past 3 games only helps the team as a whole, especially considering the last 3 were victories, regardless of how close the final score. Lots of room to improve, but we all know that improve they do under Coach Izzo.
Couch sucks.
Thanks for that one MGoBlow.
Brian,
Thanks for the shout out!
BTW – Breslin 1st gig:
It was the massed pipes & drums of the Black Watch!!!!! The MSU drum line dueled the drums of the 51st highlanders which was pretty cool.
Sweep tonight 10-2
Not sure about Glad Glade after losing Frazier for the year.
don’t ask me how or why but i had a roomate who was a grad student and went to U-scum undergrad..in 1985 he bet me skiles wouldn’t score 20 against the wolves..i went to his seat at halftime to collect..i was in the spartan spirits..too many memories to count..
Ugh…we picked the wrong night to be flat…
5-2 will turn into 9-2 in the blink of an eye
We just ran out of gas folks , short rotations and longer shifts, Harris and Trice were not at full force. Take a look at whats in front of us. I guaranty this team will look totally differant in the next four games. By December 16th this team will be 9-2 and back in the top 15.
12/01/12
vs. Nicholls State
East Lansing, Mich.
12:00 p.m. ET
12/05/12
vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
East Lansing, Mich.
8:00 p.m. ET
12/08/12
vs. Loyola Chicago
East Lansing, Mich.
2:00 p.m. ET
12/15/12
vs. Tuskegee
East Lansing, Mich.
9:00 p.m. ET
BIG is up 5-4 at the ACC, we win one more and deadlock this thing up at 6-6 this is a successfull challenge.
My bad marine I knew it was Jacksonville.
Jenison had a lot of fun days, but my favorite was sitting within ten feet of the mother of AC Green, who visited with Oregon and played a great game.
“GO , AC, GO!!!!!” Reverberated through the entire arena. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a better laugh in thirty years.
I understood it better when my daughter played basketball throughout middle school.
And yeah, “you can’t guard me, fat boy” is right up there…
sent you some intell on football.
South Beaches “fatboy” certainly took care of ours tonight.
I have four memories of Jenison that come to mind.
Like an earlier blogger I was at the MHSAA semi-finals in 1976. Had the pleasure of watching the Beecher Bucs that I coached in Jr High win their semi-final there and the Class B Championship the next week at AAJC.
In 1967 I believe it was saw Simon and Garfunkel there.
In January 1965 saw a greatly outmanned Spartan team (no one over 6’4 on the team) lose to the Cazzie Russell, Bill Buntin, and Oliver Darden led Gulos despite career nights from Bill Curtis, Ted Creary and Stan Washington’s usual solid showing. Darden almost ended his season by jumping to block a shot and banged his head on the rim. Went out like a light but continued when he came to.
In February before a virtually unattended Northwestern game the Varsity Football team played a game against the Freshman Basketball team (freshmen were not eligible for varsity at that time). The football team killed them with Gene Washington and Charles Smith playing for the football team. Charles had about 14 points. All 2 handed dunks. After the fourth one, 6’10″ freshmen center Tom Lick from Gaylord (which was a tiny school then) decided he was tired of Bubba dunking on him. On the next one he tried to block it. He got both hands on top of the ball. The only problem was that Bubba was so strong he stuffed the and Lick’s hands through the rim. There was a 15 minute break while the training staff repaired the freshman’s wrists. He was lucky they weren’t both broken.
See memories beget memories, Saw Bill Cosby there in the early ’70′s and the tickets were gratis because my dad and I had flown him from Detroit City airport. When we deplaned, my younger brother(who was like 6’5″ and 92 lbs) was there getting bags or something and Cos said something about him looking like Weird Harold(?-one of his characters) The only thing I remember him saying during the flight (and he was cutting up the whole time) was when my Dad gave me the airplane, he said something like, are you old enough to drive.
Thanks for sharing those
“When the moon is in the blog of Couch.
And Jeff Lubeck aligns with Mars
Then Ghost of Biggy will guide the planets
And his posts will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Hafarius
The Age of Hafarius
Hafarius! HAFARIUS! “
Brian, my memories of Jenison are very few and I was very glad to see it once again this past August.
Back around 81 or 82, my brother was in the Spartan Brass. I came up from Jackson for a game and without a ticket. I walked in through the same door my brother did and sat behind the band. I wish I could remember more about the actual game (it was not a big game, nor was it full) but I do remember listening to “Let’s Groove” at least a few times that night and have not been able to get the tune out of my head since (especially the bass and the Tubas).
Can’t go wrong with some good ol Earth, Wind and Fire.
Roger that.
This article by Joe indicates that the kids knew they played poorly, but why does that happen in this game? I can see it against South Podunk U, but in this bragging rights game? Leadership is nonexistent. There is nobody getting in anybody’s face for taking plays off, and if somebody doesn’t take on that role, long season like ’09.
http://www.freep.com/article/20121129/SPORTS07/311290206/michigan-state-spartans-miami-hurricanes-derrick-nix-keith-appling?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Michigan%20State%20Spartans
To fill in the hole of the tweet on OL David Dawson from Detroit, the Sec school he’s going to visit in January after his visit with the Spartans is ‘Bama. He goes to see the Criminal Recruiter next week.
way to go shartys! once harris gets back everything will be ok. LMAO!!!!!
Marky Walmart – U r so predictable. Get a life, loser.
You’ll never LYAO because you’ll still be one.
Why this season was still disastrous even w/ a bowl invite – Nat’l perception:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1424996-9-players-coaches-and-teams-bound-to-choke-in-bowl-season/page/5
Ouch…
Author is entitled to his opinion, and I found it to be rather ignorant.
Perception can be ignorant – until U prove it wrong. We had/ have to be better than most/ all other schools in the B1G on the field for a sustained period of time to overcome the negative perception that was rightfully put on our program by it’s history of incompetence since 1972 (30 plus years). 6-6 feeds the perception of SOS (Can’t succeed when expectations are put on the program). MD has had 6 years (excellent = 2010 & 2011 – 2 years) & the perception is the same nationally. MD has been good, but we needed excellent (ie – Barry Alzarez). But I digress – we r stuck w/ him good, bad, or indifferent until his extension runs out. He & his team better be excellent next year (I hope MD is a magician that can reincarnate Javon Ringer & Kellen Davis for his Offense when Bell/ Sims declare for the draft) b/c the window of opportunity is closing.
Not counting this post the score is now
Calloway 49
Couch 3
LMAO!
Cracker must be hurtin’ to bring in Joe to make sure somebody might watch his video. BTW – Can someone on the LSJ staff tell the idiot that he is covering MSU sports, not his favorite team, the Walmarts – nice Blue shirt, moron.
Not counting this post the score is now
Calloway 49
Couch 3
Correction I just checked the score
Not counting these posts
Calloway 49
Couch 2
MGoBlow, cute the Janitor some slack, he’s trying to earn his $100 a week, the culprit is still Mark Geppetto Silverman. So let’s just ignore him.
Good call.
Chris,
not sure about the meaning of your re-tweet from Lucas Caldwell
Miss the commentary from FMatt this time of year. Always good for keeping things in perspective. Hope all is well.
He probably thinks that the blog is part of the pay per view and doesn’t want to be held up for stuff that is free everywhere else.