The Big Ten continues to eat its own young.. it’s a rough go this year…. tough sledding…  The Spartans will have at least one more loss in the conference before its all said and done.. it just a brutal , but improved league this year.. the beatings show  no signs of a let up…   4 or 5 games left in the Conference regular season…

*Michigan State:  (20-4, 10-2)
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Michigan State................   23   31  -   54
Michigan......................   15   27  -   42

It was a defensive game, but the Spartans were more than a match for the wolverines.. even in AnnArbor.. Travis Walton covered Manny Harris like steel curtain, Harris only got 7 points, 2 – 10, and 4 turnovers…  Walton played stellar “D”.. Damn he was good..   Delvon Roe had a career game (14 pts, 10 rebs), best Freshman in the Big Ten… The Spartan Depth is showing, since Raymar is still out due to illness.. The Spartan Bench is as dangerous as the starting 5.
See the review:  http://blog.spartymsu.com/2009/02/11/spartans-beat-uofm-54--42.aspx

  Next Games are: at Purdue and home against Wisconsin…

*Illinois (21-5, 9-4)   Illini beat NW 60 – 57.. Barely beat the Wild Cats… 
Beat Indiana in  another close one.. 65 – 52.. 9 players put points up.. out rebounded Indiana  35 – 23. Shot 75% from the free throw line, and 50% of their field goals.. barley better than Indiana.. They escaped.. Got lucky.
  Next Games: Penn State and at Ohio State

*Purdue (19-6, 8-4): Beat Penn State 61 – 47: Held the Nittany Lions to under 37% shooting.. Riddell had 13 points (5-7 shooting), Nemmy, scored 14 points (4-6 shooting), JJ Had 14 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 assists… Hummel still out with bad back.Beat Iowa in a close contest: 49 – 45….  
   Next Games at home: with Michigan State and Indiana

*Ohio State (17-6, 7-5) Lost to Wisconsin 50 – 55.  Only 2 players in double digits.. Turner and Buford… Only 6 players scored for the buckeyes and were out rebounded 21 – 30….
   Next games up are:  at Northwestern and Illinois.

 
*Minnesota (19-6, 7-6)
Beat Indiana 62 – 54… had only 1 player scoring in double digits the entire game, and He (Carter)  didn’t even start. 3 – 13 from beyond the arc.. and still won..  Zero points in the paint or fast break points.. They only shot 40% for the game.. they tried to give it away, Indiana just couldn’t stand up and get it…
Lost to Penn State.. 63 – 68. Battle had 21 points, Joesph for Tubby’s team…  Very Exciting game to watch…
  Next up,  at Michigan and home with Northwestern

*Wisconsin (16-9, 7-6) Beat Iowa 69 – 52. The big German farm-boy Krabbenhaft-berg’enstein scored team high 16 points. 3 Badgers scored in double digits… 
Beat Ohio State in a close one… 55 – 50. 8 players put points on the board, and out rebounded the buckeyes..
 Next up: at Indiana and at Michigan State.

*Michigan (16-10, 6-7) Lost to the Spartans at Home: 42 – 54… Manny Harris only got 7 points, 2 – 10, and 4 turnovers, the home loss hurt.. and put the NCAA tourney hopes on ice for another year..   For a team that lives and dies by the 3 pointer, shooting 16% for the night will kill them.. and it did…
Game against Northwestern: won 70 – 67 in OT…
  Next up:  Minnesota and at Iowa.

*Iowa (13-13, 3-10). Lost to Wisconsin in Madison 52 – 69. Iowa was held to 50% shooting and only hit 8 – 14 free throws. Gaten was “T”d up when he gave a forearm shiver squarely in the chest of Landry in the first half.Lost to Purdue49 – 45.. I thought they might pull it off and beat Purdue.. no luck.. Kelly scored 19, Cole 13.. out rebounded 25 – 25.. Close game..
  Next up: only game is home against Michigan.

*Penn State (18-7, 7-6) Lost to Purdue 47 – 61. Battle held to 7 shots and zero points.. Ice.. Ice.. Baby.. Whats up with the Nittany Lions..??
    Next up, at Illinois.

*Northwestern (13-10, 4-8)     Lost to Illinos 57 – 60..   Lost to Michigan in OT.. 67 - 70
   Next up,  Home with Ohio State and at Minnesota.

*Indiana (6-18, 1-11)    Lost to Minnesota:  42 54, Coach Crean did suspend Dumes, coach did the right thing..   only 4 players scored from the floor…  and they had 26 turnovers..  Next year Coach Crean.. you’ll be much better with this young team..

Lost to the Illini.. 52 – 65.. almost pulled an upset.. but again couldn’t close the deal.. Only hit 45% of the free throws, and 41 percent of the field goals and 45% from beyond the arc.. all 7 players that dressed , scored..
 Next games:  Wisconsin and at Purdue.

The Local Team That I enjoy watching…. Great place to see a game….
Oakland University (15-11, 8-5) Beat IPFW this week.. 83 – 72.. make a run to get into the Tourney !
 Next at Western Illinois and IUPUI Jaguars

Sparty On !!!