In with the old. Out with the...young?

Kentucky.  I'm over Kentucky.  I'm over the State of Kentucky dominating the basketball arena.  So when it came to Tuesday's Champions Classic game between Michigan State and Kentucky, all I wanted to see a was a big W on the Spartan's schedule for November 12, 2013.

Between frantic bites of my burrito and calling out plays for the team (maybe this will be the year that Izzo finally tunes his radio to my signal), acid rose in my throat and I had to gasp for air.  No, I wasn't having a panic attic.  I wasn't sick.  The Michigan State Spartans were playing basketball!  Enough said and about time.

Heading into Tuesday's clash, much of the talk was on how Kentucky's young but stellar freshman class, which boasts some ridiculous number of McDonald's All American's and arguably the favored top NBA draft pick of 2014, Julius Randle, would handle Michigan State's talented and seasoned squad.  It was the classic old vs. new or the veteran vs. the rookie.  The energy and excitement felt like the end of March and my pulse acted that way too.

MSU played a very young Kentucky team that will be a monster to compete with given another month or so of play under their belt.  But the Spartan's experience, wisdom, and cohesion, proved to win the day on Tuesday.  Our guys have chemistry and its fun to watch.  The opening minutes of the game were almost jaw-dropping as the Wildcats couldn't get past the Spartan's stifling defense. It almost felt like we were playing Nebraska or...Columbia (don't worry, you can watch that matchup tomorrow at 9 pm).   Harris, Appling, and Dawson's quick hands created 11 turnovers in total for the game and proved just why the Spartans are a force to be reckoned with.

But we all knew that the game wouldn't be a runaway.  I mean, MSU was technically the underdog, after all.  So it was no surprise that the freshman jitters ran off and the Kentucky Wildcats started to find a groove.  With the refs calling the game tight, putting all of MSU's Bigs to the bench, the Spartan's had no answer for Julius Randle, who ended the evening with 27 points and 13 rebounds.  But what was so impressive and encouraging, is that MSU held their ground.  Even when Payne sat for several minutes in the second half due to foul trouble and we couldn't seem to pull down a rebound, MSU stayed poised.  Sure, we let Kentucky come back and tie the game.  And we could have let the momentum continue in their direction.  But, older and wiser teams know that if emotions get the best of you, you're in trouble.  So instead of responding to their depleted lead with silly fouls and poor shot choices, MSU held their ground and played smart.  Valentine's unusual-looking pass to an open Appling gave MSU a quick 3-point advantage and then extended that lead to five in a matter of a few seconds when Harris read the Kentucky offense and stole the ball for an easy two points.  And what was a hopeful, talented, freshmen-filled Wildcat team ten seconds earlier was now a young, dejected team that never quite regained their ground after that.

Those last few minutes of the game showed what MSU is made of.  We saw a somewhat under-the-radar Appling who led the team with 22 points, 8 assists, and 4 steals.  We saw Payne playing wisely with four fouls.  We saw Dawson and Harris make big plays right when we needed them to.  We saw an old Spartan team that left me wanting for more.