The Badgers had what I would qualify as a good loss last night at Michigan State. The Spartans are an elite program as evidenced by their numerous final four trips. To beat them at their place is highly unlikely, and to sweep them in a season is almost impossible.
College basketball is not college football, teams are allowed to lose games. The Badgers lost, but it was a close, competetive game. This Badger team will have another shot at Michigan State at the Kohl Center later in the year. If Wisconsin can beat Purdue on Saturday this loss will mean absolutely nothing.
You want to play well on the road, but it is not required that you win. March Madness is all about playing on a neutral floor. No team should have as distinct as an advantage as Michigan State has at their place. The same could be said for games at Wisconsin, or almost any major programs home floor. It is more important to prove you will not waver at adversity and the Badgers were able to do that.
One thing I would like to see the Badger work in a little more when they are struggling offensively would be a two man game with Hughes and Leuer. Then have Bohannon spotting up when Hughes or Leuer drive. I know the swing offense is more about all five guys but when you are struggling as bad as Wisconsin was getting good shots, they should mix it up.
The Badger will be fine. This team has a really good chance to be extremely tough in the tourney since this is the first time in a while they have two legit guys who can create their own shot and can actually make it in Leuer and Hughes. Taylor can also create his own shot, he just doesn’t make them a lot. And the defense is tough as always.
Alabama – Texas
Does College Football realize how anticlimactic their title game is by having it this late in the year? It is a huge mistake for College Football to push this game so close to NFL playoffs. The sport should look at doing anything it can to get its title game in before the last weekend of NFL games. Imagine if this game was last Saturday? Why wasn’t it?
By waiting this long the luster is gone. The sport already has a natural layoff waiting for New Years, I do not understand why they do not make an effort to get this game in before NFL playoff fever takes over.
Now, NFL fever is here, and that is all most of us care about. Which is too bad because College Football is the most entertaining sport from September through November. College Football has a great beginning, horrible ending. College Basketball has a meaningless beginning, unbelievable ending. The NFL has a great beginning, middle, and end.
Anyways, I have loved Bama all year. I thought they were the best team from the night they pummeled Virginia Tech. I love their defensive scheme and talent. They play a physical running game, have a great WR, and weapons in the return game.
BUT… I am going with Texas tonight. I do not like the fact that Alabama has been hearing for a month how great they are. They were great versus Florida, but hearing that for a whole month is tough to not become complacent. If they played a best 2 out of 3 I think Alabama wins, but in a rusty one and done I am going to take quite possibly the most underrated ultra-talented team I can remember. Maybe that is why the line is only 4.
FanSided