Not for cowards

You want an easy road?  Easy wins?  Easy baskets?  Then leave the Big Ten.  To be a team in the Big Ten means you will face a true battle of grit and toughness every game you play in the conference.  With six teams in the top 25 as we speak, nothing will come easy or cheap.

This was certainly true of the Spartan's Big Ten opener against the Golden Gophers.  Though the Gophers had a higher ranking at #9, their play against the Spartans over the past several seasons, suggested they were the underdog.  But they were far from it.  The first 34 minutes of play rather evenly matched the two teams.  My stomach was in knots the entire time as the Spartans and Gophers traded baskets and leads.  The game was physical, with both teams ready to put their pre-conference preparatory games behind.

After minute thirty-four, however, the game switched gears.  The Spartans looked afraid and jolted with their turnover nightmares haunting them once again.  Their poor free-throw shooting mocked them as they left the game with a miserable 20% showing.  Payne and Nix both had unimpressive games, missing easy shots in the paint and allowing the Gophers far too many second chance shots.

I could go on but will stop there to ask the all-important question: What do we learn from this?  Well, if you want a Big Ten Championship, you got to play for 40 minutes.  Thirty-four won't suffice.  You lose focus and it'll cost you.  One commentator mentioned that in the Big Ten, one loss cannot turn into two.  He's right.  Michigan State began its conference play with a disappointing loss to a very talented team.  But now, they must learn from that game, move on, and prepare for the next battle.  There will be very few opportunities for the Spartans to enjoy a relaxing cruise.  Take your cruise in May.  To play in the Big Ten, you must combine talent with mental toughness.  MSU has a lot of talent.  But when talented players make emotional decisions on court, such as frustration fouls or hurried, frantic passes, it costs the team.  Let Minnesota be a lesson because Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio State, just to name a few, are still ahead.

Time to play....for 40 minutes...against Purdue.  Don't miss: 1/5 at 12:00.