Leelanau Sports Guy’s World at sportspig.com

Michigan State Basketball Coach Tom Izzo has decided to turn down the Cleveland Cavaliers offer and stay at MSU. I had a feeling all along this would happen, but to finally have it confirmed is great news!

Saw this video on mgoblog of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson highlights from the annual spring game. As an added bonus the highlights are sprinkled with Christopher Walken.

I think Robinson will ultimately win be the man at quarterback for Michigan. He’s quick and has a strong arm. He’ll give Michigan the best chance at getting back to a bowl this season!

I heard on ESPN around the middle of February that it was okay to start talking and thinking about March Madness. Well, I’ve been able to almost make it to March, so now it’s time to start thinking March Madness Predictions.

Here’s my top five teams to watch during March Madness 2010!

Kansas – I had a hard time, picking between Kansas and Kentucky, but I went with Kansas because of the experience factor. The Jayhawks have been dominant at times this year with only one stumble, a loss at Tennessee in early January. Lots of weapons on offense and a defense that can apply shut-down pressure, the Jayhawks look like a lock for the Final Four!

Michigan State – Coach Tom Izzo is one of the best at preparing his team for opponents during the tournament. That being said, this year his team has been up and down and lacks experience on the frontline that has been a staple of Spartan teams in the past. I still like there chances and they are most likely looking at 3, 4 or 5 seed depending on how the rest of the season shakes out.

Rhode Island – Not alot of people know much about the Rams this season, but they are quietly putting together a terrific season. A couple of losses to top-25 ranked Temple have kept them out of the rankings, but they are right on the edge. A deep team with explosive offensive capabilities. A very possible 10, 11, or 12 seed who could make a run to the Sweet Sixteen.

Pittsburgh – I love the physical teams, but this isn’t your ordinary physical team. The Panthers can score points, lots of ‘em, and play that up-tempo style some physical teams don’t like to play. A well-coached team and battle-tested from the tough Big East competition, I think Pitt is peaking at the right time this year and has a successful March ahead of them!

Purdue – I know, I know two Big Ten teams? Are you crazy? The Big Ten was very solid in the tourney last year and Purdue might be better then any of those teams last year. A experience front-line and a team with great leadership, look for Purdue to match-up well with anyone they meet in the tourney and with their current 9-game winning streak, they are gaining confidence and momentum at the most crucial time of the year.

Pete Carroll tries to head to Seattle but is delayed by a USC superfan.

Just got a heads up about a new commercial that will air one-time only during the Final Four on Saturday. Here’s the details and a sneek peak at the commercial featuring former Detroit Pistons Rick Mahorn and Kelly Tripucka, and former tennis great John McEnroe.

The Final Four on CBS this Saturday will be interrupted by John McEnroe.  The three-time Wimbledon and four-time US Open Champion, who recently turned 50, will be serving up a bit of humor for the 50 year-olds watching the Final Four on CBS this Saturday. Mac, alongside 50 year-old hoopsters Kelly Tripucka and Rick Mahorn, will appear in a vignette that will ONLY air one-time encouraging men to visit www.50over50challenge.com and get serious about their prostate health (specifically enlarging prostate).

Check it out!

Michigan State fans will hopefully have alot to cheer about this weekend as the men’s and women’s basketball teams play in Sweet 16 matchups. The men tip-off tonight (about 9:40pm) in a rematch with Kansas, while the women play Iowa State on Saturday.

Read MSU Men & Women in Sweet Sixteen at Absolute Michigan

Join the Yahoo! Sports Bracket Challenge to go up against the best sports minds in Leelanau County (at least in our own minds) in our annual Leelanau March Madness Pool.

Just click the following link to register, you’ll need a yahoo! account…

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joinprivategroup_assign_team?GID=157885&P=county

Enjoy March Madness!

Leelanau Sports Guy

Most everyone knows I am a Michigan State Spartan fan, but that hasn’t stopped me from being impressed with the Michigan Wolverines hoops team in coach John Beilein’s second season. The Wolverines are off to a 6-2 start with wins over UCLA and Duke being the highlights. Superstar Manny Harris hasn’t disappointed and if DeShawn Sims can play like he did against Duke against everyone else, the Wolverines will be in the upper half of the Big Ten.

Read Mailbag: What to expect from Michigan? at Rivals.com

Traverse City St. Francis Gladiator linebacker Max Bullough has verbally committed to the 2010 class at Michigan State University. Bullough is a familiar name at MSU as the Detroit News reports…

Max, Dantonio’s first commitment for 2010, is the grandson of former Spartans assistant coach and player Hank Bullough and the nephew of Chuck Bullough, a former second-team All-American linebacker at MSU who is a position coach at UCLA.

Shane Bullough, Chuck’s older brother, also played linebacker at MSU and was an All-American.

Max, listed by Rivals.com as 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, also considered scholarship offers from Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford and Iowa.

As a Spartan fan, I have to say it’s very cool and MSU is getting one tough player!

Read Spartans lure familiar name in the Detroit News

The Record Eagle also has an article…

Read Bullough headed to MSU in the Record Eagle

The Record Eagle’s Mark Urban has compiled his latest look at local stars in college and several former Leelanau County athletes are doing quite well especially Leland’s Alisha Glass…

The top-ranked Nittany Lions beat No. 20 Illinois (25-16, 25-19, 25-12) on Saturday and No. 19 Purdue (25-12, 25-15, 25-21) on Friday to increase their record to 14-0. Penn State has yet to lose a set in any match this season.

Leading the Nittany Lions is junior setter Alisha Glass (Leland). Glass had 36 assists, two kills, two digs and one block while helping PSU hit .453 against Illinois and had 34 assists, two kills, four digs and two blocks against Purdue.

Read College Notes: Perfection for Glass in the Record Eagle

Opinions on five current sports topics from yours truly…

1. Tigers are done – It’s all over but the cryin’ in 2008. Another blown lead last night puts the Tigers 8.5 games back in the divsion race. Sheffield was put on waivers and the moves looking to slash payroll and ready the team for a run in 2009 will start now!

2. Kwame Brown? – The signing of Brown has brought opinions saying it’s a waste of money and that it’s a good deal for the Pistons. It’s hard to argue either side, but I think Joe D may have found another diamond in the rough and if the solid veteran leadership of Chauncey, Rip and McDyess can bring Kwame along, he could be a pleasant surpise and really help shore up the depth on the frontline.

3. Lions over .500 – That’s my official prediction, I have this weird feeling that the Lions are going to finish 9-7 and contend for a wild card berth. While this isn’t a new prediction around these parts, I think this is really, finally, positively, the year they get over that hump. I know on paper they seem less talented, but I think that head coach Rod Marinelli has finally gotten the roster where he wants it and has gotten rid of the players he’s needed to. I still think they will struggle to run the ball, but they won’t be so quick to abandon it either. A healthy Calvin Johnson is going to be huge for quarterback Jon Kitna. Johnson and Roy Williams should provide some offensive sparks this season. I’m looking forward to it!

4. College Football – It’s finally almost here! I can’t wait. I like Michigan and Michigan State to both have solid years and for the first time in a while MSU will have the better record. I just love Mark Dantonio and think he’s got the Spartans heading up, up, up and will be a mainstay in the Big Ten title race for years to come. Rich Rodriguez is still looking for quarterbacks but will have his team competitive and tough to play against defensively.

5. Shock visit TC – A neat experience on Monday for some Traverse City area youth girls basketball players as the Detroit Shock (minus Katie Smith who is playing in the Olympics) visited during the Olympic break for a camp and clinic at Traverse City West. I love to see stories like this and I am sure it’s something those girls won’t forget anytime soon.

If you want to let the me know what you think, you can always send me an email at leelanausportsguy@sportspig.com or post a comment!

It’s pretty much unanimous that Ohio State is going to win the Big Ten. I haven’t found anyone saying otherwise as we get closer to the start of the 2008 College Football season. As far as my predictions, I like both Michigan and Michigan State to be in the upper half of the Big Ten and make it to warm-weather bowl games. The Wolverines will struggle at times, but I think Rich Rodriguez’s style on both sides of the bowl will be plenty good enough with the athletes they have to have a successful season. Michigan State is on the rise and should be plenty fun to watch themselves. If Javon Ringer can stay healthy then they’ll contend for the crown. They do have one of the tougher schedules in the country and the toughest Big Ten schedule by far.

My 2008 Big Ten Predictions
1. Ohio State - The most talented team in the Big Ten with 20 starters back, sorry Big Ten.
2. Illinois – Can the Juice lead the Illini to another magical season?
3. Wisconsin – Always good, but need to find a new quarterback.
4. Michigan State – We’ll see how they handle the pressure of being on the cusp of the Top 25.
5. Michigan – 4 losses wouldn’t shock me, but then neither would 1 or 2.
6. Penn State – I’m not as high on Penn State as others.
7. Northwestern – Fun to watch and will be in many games.
8. Purdue – Bowl game? Not this year.
9. Indiana – When’s basketball start?
10. Iowa – Ferentz will be done after this season.
11. Minnesota – Not a lot of talent and a horrible defense.

Read Ohio State stands out in Big Ten race at Rivals.com

Although he’s most famous for being a great college basketball player, I’ll always remember Jeff Tropf as my biology teacher and freshmen basketball coach at Suttons Bay. He also knows how to catch great tasting fish! Along with teaching at Suttons Bay, Tropf now coaches varsity basketball at Northport.

His college career got off to an interesting start to say the least, but it ended up being quite successful after his transfer to Central Michigan.

Tropf, who played 2 1/2 seasons for the Chippewas, was a first-team all-Mid American Conference (MAC) selection in 1978, finishing second in the Player of the Year voting. He averaged 17.3 points — shooting 60 percent from the field — and a MAC-high 11.1 rebounds per game that season.

Congrats to Mr. Tropf and his family!

Read Tropf to be inducted into CMU Hall of Fame in the Record Eagle

When you see this on ESPN.com…

Memphis up 30 at half

Not a good night to be a Michigan State fan. Down 10 or maybe even 15, I’d say they have a shot, but 30 down, Memphis isn’t going to miss that many free throws.

The Detroit Free Press has organized some of their best photos of our favorite Detroit Sports Legends and Moments. Very cool! You can check out many photos including Justin Verlander’s No-Hitter, the Fab Five, the Best of Pistons-Bulls Rivalry, and even Joey Harrington (for lots of great sack photos!).

Visit freep.com/sportsphotos to check them out!

Above photo by the Detroit Free Press