Big Ten Football & Basketball Blog

I thought the Big Ten was supposed to be down this year… I guess not! The Spartans of Michigan State seem poised to ensure the world knows that the Big Ten is still going strong as they not only made it to the 2009 Final Four, but tonight advanced to the NCAA Tournament Championship game with a 82-73 win over UConn. As if Michigan State basketball apparel & clothing was not flying off the shelves fast enough, the win tonight and appearance in the National Championship Game on Monday night will only boost sales even more and boost the local Detroit economy with local fans flocking from across Michigan.

So who will the Spartans face on Monday night? UNC and Villanova are about to tipp off so we will know more in a couple of hours.

No. 2 Michigan State (26-6) vs. No. 15 Robert Morris (24-10)
Time/Site: 9:50 DT/Minneapolis
The winner gets: The winner of Boston College-USC
Summary: The Spartans won their fifth regular season Big Ten title under coach Tom Izzo but lost to Ohio State in the conference tournament semifinals. Robert Morris won the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament titles and is appearing in the tournament for the first time in 17 years.
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Key Players: Michigan State – Kalin Lucas (14.8 ppg, 4.4 apg), G; Raymar Morgan (10.8 ppg), F Robert Morris – Jeremy Chappell (16.9 ppg)
Key stat: Michigan State – The Spartans need 4 wins to get to the Final Four held at Ford Field in Detroit. Robert Morris – The Colonials have 3 players – Chappell, Jimmy Langhurst and Gary Wallace – who are shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range.
Michigan State will win: Because the Spartans have a great point guard in Lucas, Morgan is healthy and center Goran Suton is as physical as anyone in the country that you have not heard about.
Robert Morris will win: If it can get past the butterflies and hope Michigan State has an out-of-body experience. The Colonials just don’t have the roster to really stay on the floor with the Spartans.
Prediction: Michigan State 81, Robert Morris 58