Spartans staying alive in The Dance, Pistons top Spurs, Tigers getting healthy
A busy weekend, and thankfully, I got to actually watch some of it!
Spartans advance to Sweet Sixteen
Text from AP article by Jimmy Golen
An afterthought during the regular season and sentimental second choice in the NCAAs, Michigan State finally is stepping out of the shadows.
The Spartans advanced to the Austin Regional semifinals on Sunday with a 72-61 victory over 13th-seeded Vermont, the plucky school with the wacky coach that upset Syracuse for its first NCAA tournament victory. Michigan State, which finished second to top-ranked Illinois in the Big Ten, reached the round of 16 for the sixth time in eight years.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “I thought, with the entire state and nation pulling for them, it would be tough to overcome. I tell you, if I wasn’t playing against them, I’d be pulling for them.”
Maurice Ager scored 19 points and Paul Davis had 11 points and 14 rebounds for Michigan State (24-6). Izzo improved to 21-6 in the tournament — a winning percentage second among active coaches to Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski — and set the Spartans up for a matchup with the Blue Devils in Austin. Duke defeated Mississippi State 63-55 on Sunday.
My view: This team is getting better and playing together better than at any point this season. Sure they have only gone through the #12 and #13 seeds, but other top programs are being taken out by lesser seeds, so the fact they haven’t is very encouraging. That had to be one of the best games I have ever seen Paul Davis play and if he can play at that same level against Duke, the Spartans will be cruising to the Elite 8.
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Sunday’s key matchups
Yahoo! Sports article by Clark Kellogg
Michigan St. vs. Duke
This is a rematch of an early season meeting, which Duke won in Durham. I like Michigan State here however. The Spartans are an efficient offensive team. They’re deep and athletic enough to really bother Duke on the perimeter.
Pick: Michigan State.
Read all of Clark Kellogg’s Sweet Sixteen Picks
My view: I sure hope he’s right! I think MSU does have a chance, and it would be another great chapter to the final part of the story for these seniors if they can go out how I am predicting. The Spartans have a legitimate shot at the National Title, say it with me! Go State!
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Pistons knock off Spurs for 12th straight home win
Text from AP article by Larry Lage
The San Antonio Spurs insisted they weren’t thinking about Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons being a possible NBA Finals preview.
Too many things can happen over the next three months, they said.
Seeing Tim Duncan turn his ankle in gruesome fashion and crumple to the court in pain could’ve only pushed postseason thoughts further from their minds.
Despite losing Duncan moments after the tip, San Antonio put together a gritty performance.
But Chauncey Billups scored 25 points, including five straight to blunt a late Spurs’ rally, and the Pistons went on to beat San Antonio 110-101 on Sunday.
My view: Yesterday was one of those great days in sports. Pistons, Spartans and Tigers were all on at about the same time, so got to watch bits and pieces of each. The parts of the Pistons game I was were both encouraging and discouraging. I will start with the good. Defense. This team when it comes time to need a stop, will get it. The bad, Tony Parker abusing Billups at times. I wasn’t sure what Billups problem was, but he was getting beat every time down the floor for a couple of stretches in the first half. He played a solid game down the stretch though, so no real worries here.
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Tigers: Infante takes the field, Guillen makies fielding debut
Fanball.com article
News
Tigers second baseman Omar Infante played in the field on Sunday for the first time this spring. Infante has been battling a sore right shoulder since the start of camp, and he’s only appeared in a few games as a DH. He remains day-to-day, according to the Associated Press.
Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen played the field on Sunday for the first time this spring. “I’m feeling better every day. I want to have my confidence back. That’s the key,” he told the Associated Press. Guillen tore the ACL in his right knee on September 11. He has been playing DH this spring, and his future work remains a day-to-day decision.
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Infante also hit a homer on Sunday, and it appears as though his bat is just fine. If his sore shoulder doesn’t allow him to fully field his position, though, Infante might not be in the Opening Day lineup. We’ll continue to update Omar’s status.
It’s still not a given that Guillen will be ready for Opening Day, but this is a huge step. The biggest thing in recovering from such a knee surgery is being able to plant and cut in the field, and it’s good to know he feels strong enough at this point to attempt that work.
My view: Great news! Sunday versus the Cardinals was the first game I have watched this spring and I have to say I am very excited about this upcoming season. If Jason Johnson can be consistent over an entire season, he will give this team a chance to win some games. The offense is going to be fun to watch and will score lots of runs, so the Tigers starters don’t have to be perfect, just solid.
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