Comments on: Elite 8: Louisville-Michigan State Preview, Analysis, and Prediction

By: JRod

JRod — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:56:38 +0000

Question for MSU fans: has Goran Suton been playing this well all year or has he significantly elevated his game during the tournament? He’s been outstanding.

Great start for MSU. Up 19-18. What a tough, physical game. Everything we could have anticipated and more. It’s a shame one of these two teams will have to go home at the end of this one.

By: Erick

Erick — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:03:40 +0000

My money is on Louisville. Go Cards!!

By: JRod

JRod — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:26:28 +0000

@SDD, that’s a good point. I was surprised at how empty the stadium looked during the MSU-Kansas game. Michigan State is a pretty tough road team, so I don’t think a crowd weighted in Louisville’s favor will affect the Spartans too much, but it certainly can’t hurt.

By: SDD

SDD — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:48:49 +0000

No article that I have read has mentioned that Indianapolis is basically a home game for Louisille. Having gone to Friday night’s games, clearly half the 30,000 fans were wearing Cardinal red. Advantage: Louisville

By: KAP

KAP — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:51:03 +0000

Big Ten homers. I can’t wait for Louisville to shoot you up with of reality. The Big Ten is the 4th or 5th best conference, not better and not underrated. A lot of average teams still makes for average conference.
I did like the stat breakdown of the game. Nice work. Go Cards!

By: JRod

JRod — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:52:51 +0000

@Dan Wright, you are correct. They did not lose any games in January. I was trying to narrow the focus a bit, but Louisville certainly has been a juggernaut since January.

Look, I don’t disagree with your sentiments. In fact, I pretty much said that every sign points to Louisville winning this game and that my prediction is influenced more by hope and wishful thinking than objectivity. This is a game where 8 or 9 times out of 10, I think Louisville will win. I just have a gut feeling that Michigan State can find a way to pull it out. I won’t be surprised in the slightest if the Cardinals in win, for many of the reasons you cited, but like Mandi below I’m hoping Spartans can put it together for 40 minutes and keep the Big Ten alive.

By: Mandi

Mandi — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:48:23 +0000

Last night in East Lansing was the same feeling we all had just a few years ago when we MARCHED to the final four! Albert street was full of spartan craze! I know the SPARTANS can do this, and I have every confidence they will. Last nights passes have got to stop! Passing NEVER puts points on the board. If you are there….SHOOT IT!! The boys can do it… GO GREEN, GO WHITE!

By: Dan Wright

Dan Wright — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:35:17 +0000

I appreciate your opinion but disagree heartily. I went to the two games at Lucas Oil Stadium last night and was not impressed with Michigan State in the least. Louisville did beat up on a 12 seed but, having watched 90% of their play this year, they have played their best basketball in March. Louisville is going all the way this year. They throw waves of tenacious guards (Smith, McGee, Sosa, and Knowles) in your face and MSU has not been prepared for the pace or style from the boring styles of Big Ten basketball. Louisville may be down at half but will grind MSU down the whole game and reap the dividends in the second half. State’s best players may have very good games but the role players will be completely outmatched resulting in TO’s and points for the Cards. I did pick UL to make the Final Four and I would take Louisville with the points for this game. I say UL by double digits at the end.

Also, your article contains an pseudo-inaccuracy: you wrote: “since the calendar turned to February the Cardinals have only lost two games” but should read “since the calendar turned to 2009 the Cardinals have only lost two games.” They went undefeated in January after losing on New Year’s Eve to UNLV.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:45:16 +0000

Nice analysis.. My bracket has State over Louisville (gulp). Let the huge upset begin!* Here’s to hoping!

*in my mind