It was going to make the difference. Somehow I just knew it. Midway through the second half of the Michigan-Michigan State basketball game a loose ball was recovered on the floor by a Michigan player.
He clearly had possession and was both frantically yelling and signalling for a time out. But somehow three referees, including one standing just a few feet away and looking right at it, went into Helen Keller mode and the time-out was not granted. A Spartan player had finally managed to basically bear hug the Wolverine, and the refs determined it a "held ball". The possession arrow pointed towards Michigan State. They got the ball out of bounds, and subsequently scored a basket. This was at least a two point swing and potentially four, as the result of an obviously terrible call.
So even though State appeared to have their hands full with those pesky Wolverines, I just KNEW MSU would ultimately prevail by a couple points -- and that blown call might well have made the difference.
But that didn't happen.
By most accounts, Michigan State was supposed to win this game. After all, they were #3 in the country, off to their best start ever in school history (18-1), and playing at home. Conversely, Michigan was a respectable, but not spectacular #21, and had already suffered 4 defeats.
Yes, UM made it all the way to the NCAA final game last season before bowing out, but they lost a couple star players to the NBA after that, and one of their key big men was already lost this season due to an injury. And besides, during the Tom Izzo era at Michigan State, closing in on 20 years, the Spartans have pretty well owned the Wolverines.
So no way should Michigan have come back to win this game -- but they did. Actually, in quite convincing fashion -- the last two minutes that turned into a half hour with all the time-outs and the ridiculous free-throw parade notwithstanding.
For now, Hail Hail to Michigan as they sit alone atop the Big 10, 12, 14, whatever it is these days Conference. After knocking off #3 State on the road, the Maize and Blue cagers will likely rise a few spots in the rankings. Not long ago, UM went into then #3 Wisconsin and convincingly beat the Badgers. Then #10 Iowa at home. They're definitely on a roll, and the win at MSU was a signature moment.
On the other hand, MSU will likely plummet in the polls after getting handled by their arch-rivals on national TV. Where these two teams will rank when the new polls come out on Monday will be interesting indeed. Of course, MSU gets another crack at UM in about a month, and yours truly wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the Spartans waltz into Ann Arbor and exact revenge.
Yet there's the rub. Just like the "the call" mentioned above didn't turn out to matter, who wins the rematch between UM and MSU likely doesn't matter either.
That's because both schools will obviously qualify for the NCAA tournament that will begin it's madness in a month and a half or so. And once that starts, will anybody really remember or care what a team's regular season record was? OK, Louisville beat Michigan for the national title last year. Quick, what were their regular season records? You don't know. Neither do I. Who cares? See what I mean?
After all, the road to being a national champion is straight forward. Not counting the cannon-fodder "play-in" games, a team needs only win six games in a row. Keep winning, keep moving on. Lose anywhere along the way, and get kicked to the curb. Pretty simple.
No doubt, much hype will be generated for the rematch between UM and MSU on Feb. 23 -- but other than temporary bragging rights in a couple towns -- it really doesn't matter.
Yet I must admit watching such games is infinitely more fun than tuning into -- say -- the latest thrilling episodes of Judge Judy or Doctor Oz.
Hmmm. That gives me an idea. Perhaps they should play a home and home series. Judy could berate the Ozster in her courtroom on national TV and, a month later, the good Doctor could snap on the rubber gloves and give Her Honor a THOROUGH physical -- also on national TV.
Now THAT would be entertainment worth watching......
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