Where's the Magic?

Friday ended up being a pretty trash end to the week. I already mentioned in the blog post from my main @bozz account how I managed to lose $40 investing in the MOLT token, and then to top things off, the Michigan State Spartans managed to lose a home game against U of M. To be fair, the 83 to 71 score gives a bit lopsided view of the game. It was actually much closer than that. Maybe not at first, but in the stretch it definitely was.

Until it wasn't.

The first half was horrible. Absolutely horrible. It became pretty evident that coach Izzo must have handed it to them at halftime, because on the back side of the game they came out like a totally different team. My problem is, if they had played with that same passion from the start, they may have actually won the game. They looked like a middle America high school team in the first half.

I'm not going to argue that the officials were making some horrible calls against them through the game. While that is true, they had every opportunity to do better and actually win this game. @mrsbozz commented that it was like watching a circus act at one point. They were seriously like a bunch of clowns fumbling around the court.

As I said, they played much better in the second half even taking the lead at one point. I was actually starting to get my hopes up in a game that I thought sure would be a Wolverines win, because they are a really good team despite how much I loathe them.

Unfortunately, they were out of time and they had to start fouling. Michigan kept hitting their free throws and Michigan State couldn't convert, and the end result is a 12 point victory by U of M. As I said last week, this isn't the end for the Spartans.

They still have to face Michigan at least one more time this season I think, and as long as they can make it into the NCAA tournament, which is looking pretty good with only three losses on the season so far, they should still be good. Tom is running out of time though to get these guys playing as a cohesive unit. I really want to see a bit more synergy between all of the players. Sure, we get some great highlight shots from time to time, but what I'm really looking for is a team that looks like they are having fun playing.

Like I said, we get glimpses of it every now and then, but I want to see forty minutes of absolute joy on the court. Joy doesn't turn the ball over, and joy doesn't make stupid shots. If you have seen a team that is playing like they are having fun, you know what I am talking about. It's just a whole different feel in the stadium. It's almost magical.

Magic is something you definitely need when March comes around.