Oh, what a Neitzel...
Yes, I am painfully aware that the news media across the country has come up with every possible pun involved with Drew Neitzel's last name, but at this point, I do not care.
In case you have been living under a rock, Michigan State beat Wisconsin last night!
Yes, that's right, the number one team in the country fell to our apparently "awful" Spartans.
AND WE STORMED THE COURT!! Can I tell you how much I've wanted to do that??? It was amazing.
There have been plenty of scary times this season when we were awful. When we really had no business being on the basketball court. (See Purdue game) But, none of that matters now. What this team will be remembered for is the heart and toughness we showed when everyone in the world believed that there was no possible way we could get this victory. I've been reading every possible article I could find this morning and I'm just so proud of our boys.
Here are a few quotes that I found:
"Yes. A little luck. Very little luck. Michigan State just beat the top-ranked team in the country, and while Neitzel's three was a bit lucky, his other 25 points were not, and neither was this 64-55 victory. Michigan State was the better team Tuesday night. It was that simple. And that insane." Detroit Free Press
Yep, that three was INSANE. But Drew is a pure shooter, he just is. He has had PLENTY of confidence issues but that was not the case last night.
"Tuesday, Neitzel shot 10-for-17, nailed six three-pointers and scored 28. The rest of the Spartans shot 12-for-31, made one three-pointer and scored 36.
What a year for Neitzel: He switched from point guard to shooting guard, improved his defense dramatically, lifted his team from a near-certain trip to the Nobody's Interested Tournament to the cusp of an NCAA tourney bid, scored 28 points in an upset of the No. 1 team, and Britney Spears is trying to look like him." Detroit Free Press
That last line nearly made me pee my pants.
"Everybody rebounds. (They outrebounded Wisconsin, 41-24, and Walton, the point guard, grabbed more rebounds -- seven -- than any Badger. The big guys set brutal screens and block shots. Walton dribbles all over the place until he finds somebody open. (In order, Walton's options are: Neitzel, Neitzel, anybody who happens to be standing near the basket, Raymar Morgan, Neitzel, "and chuck one up to beat the shot clock.")" Detroit Free Press
I think this man stole our play book. Thank God for Drew Neitzel. Honestly. And T.Dub?? DOUBLE DOUBLE? Going from a man who forgot that you are, in fact, supposed to shoot during basketball games to the man who helped us shove our way to victory...that's pretty damn impressive.
And, finally...
"Maybe this isn't the most talented MSU team, and maybe it won't be remembered as one of the best, but think of what these Spartans just did.
They just beat the top-ranked team in the country. And only Magic Johnson's 1979 national champs can say the same thing." Lansing State Journal
I couldn't have said it better myself. I don't think I could be more proud of the boys. Drew wouldn't let us lose. Travis wouldn't let us lose. And even though I still hate Drew Naymick, he wouldn't let us lose. The boys stared this daunting task in the face and nearly laughed. No one can come into the Breslin and disrespect us. We let the first Ohio State game slip out of our grasp and refused to let it happen again. There were a lot of more talented MSU teams that did not do the same (See 2005-2006 team that had three NBA draft picks last year). Those teams constantly wilted under pressure. Am I saying that this team is Championship bound? No. But we're going to the tournament and we are not to be laughed at. We proved something great last night. And now we just have to build on it.
I will close with this:
The future looks bright for MSU basketball. We are a force. Do not forget it.
Go State!
Edit: Here's the link to the free press article if anyone is interested...
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070221/COL22/702210437/1048/SPORTS
In case you have been living under a rock, Michigan State beat Wisconsin last night!
Yes, that's right, the number one team in the country fell to our apparently "awful" Spartans.
AND WE STORMED THE COURT!! Can I tell you how much I've wanted to do that??? It was amazing.
There have been plenty of scary times this season when we were awful. When we really had no business being on the basketball court. (See Purdue game) But, none of that matters now. What this team will be remembered for is the heart and toughness we showed when everyone in the world believed that there was no possible way we could get this victory. I've been reading every possible article I could find this morning and I'm just so proud of our boys.
Here are a few quotes that I found:
"Yes. A little luck. Very little luck. Michigan State just beat the top-ranked team in the country, and while Neitzel's three was a bit lucky, his other 25 points were not, and neither was this 64-55 victory. Michigan State was the better team Tuesday night. It was that simple. And that insane." Detroit Free Press
Yep, that three was INSANE. But Drew is a pure shooter, he just is. He has had PLENTY of confidence issues but that was not the case last night.
"Tuesday, Neitzel shot 10-for-17, nailed six three-pointers and scored 28. The rest of the Spartans shot 12-for-31, made one three-pointer and scored 36.
What a year for Neitzel: He switched from point guard to shooting guard, improved his defense dramatically, lifted his team from a near-certain trip to the Nobody's Interested Tournament to the cusp of an NCAA tourney bid, scored 28 points in an upset of the No. 1 team, and Britney Spears is trying to look like him." Detroit Free Press
That last line nearly made me pee my pants.
"Everybody rebounds. (They outrebounded Wisconsin, 41-24, and Walton, the point guard, grabbed more rebounds -- seven -- than any Badger. The big guys set brutal screens and block shots. Walton dribbles all over the place until he finds somebody open. (In order, Walton's options are: Neitzel, Neitzel, anybody who happens to be standing near the basket, Raymar Morgan, Neitzel, "and chuck one up to beat the shot clock.")" Detroit Free Press
I think this man stole our play book. Thank God for Drew Neitzel. Honestly. And T.Dub?? DOUBLE DOUBLE? Going from a man who forgot that you are, in fact, supposed to shoot during basketball games to the man who helped us shove our way to victory...that's pretty damn impressive.
And, finally...
"Maybe this isn't the most talented MSU team, and maybe it won't be remembered as one of the best, but think of what these Spartans just did.
They just beat the top-ranked team in the country. And only Magic Johnson's 1979 national champs can say the same thing." Lansing State Journal
I couldn't have said it better myself. I don't think I could be more proud of the boys. Drew wouldn't let us lose. Travis wouldn't let us lose. And even though I still hate Drew Naymick, he wouldn't let us lose. The boys stared this daunting task in the face and nearly laughed. No one can come into the Breslin and disrespect us. We let the first Ohio State game slip out of our grasp and refused to let it happen again. There were a lot of more talented MSU teams that did not do the same (See 2005-2006 team that had three NBA draft picks last year). Those teams constantly wilted under pressure. Am I saying that this team is Championship bound? No. But we're going to the tournament and we are not to be laughed at. We proved something great last night. And now we just have to build on it.
I will close with this:
The future looks bright for MSU basketball. We are a force. Do not forget it.
Go State!
Edit: Here's the link to the free press article if anyone is interested...
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070221/COL22/702210437/1048/SPORTS