Michigan/Michigan State and the Palace

Maybe there's at least a little bit of justice in the world. For whatever reasons, though they continue to have identities tougher to pin down than your average CIA secret agent, the all-knowing folks of the NCAA hoops tournament selection committee have decided in their infinite wisdom to allow Michigan and Michigan State to play their first round games at the Palace in nearby Auburn Hills.

This is a good thing in several ways -- for the Michigan teams -- and the Palace too. First, not counting their home arenas, the Palace is about as close as it gets to a "home" game for either team. The crowds will most definitely be their favor. Second, the Sparties and the Maizies will likely travel in buses to get there. It's under a two hour drive for both. This will save a lot of money, as opposed to the fancy flights such programs have become accustomed to when playing away from their respective cocoons. Tell ya what. If either one of those teams actually charters airplanes to get to Auburn Hills, then somebody has WAY too many dollars and not enough sense.

And third, it's good for the Palace itself. Chances are, with both UM and MSU being in town, the late Bill Davidson's self-paid-for venue supreme might actually sell out. Lord knows, the team the arena was originally built for -- the Detroit Pistons -- despite every promotion short of Elvis REALLY showing up again -- can't seem to attract many people to watch them anymore. But maybe that's because they're terrible. How bad are they? If Elvis, now 78, WERE to show up again, the Pistons might be well advised to tender him a long term contract offer to shore up their bench a little bit. Couldn't hurt. That's pretty bad, but talk about people standing in line for tickets, not to mention the "comeback player of the year" award being a lock? Whoa. But maybe I'm getting a little off track here.

Anything can happen (don't underestimate teams like Memphis or VCU) , but if all goes as expected (at least by the Michigander faithful), then both UM and MSU will prevail at the Palace and reach the "Sweet 16". And, in my opinion, that's where the feel good merry-go-round suddenly stops. There will be no team from the great lakes state in the Final Four.

More on that next week, but let's see how things play out at the Palace first........