More on the NCAA’s from Denver
By Ryan Boldrey

After the first round I had predicted two close second round match-ups here in Denver. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Granted Michigan State’s second eleven point win of the weekend out here was a lot closer than the score indicated and the game wasn’t decided until the last couple minutes, the shellacking Notre Dame got put on them by Washington State left Colorado basketball fans and alumni of all schools involved without one ball game that was settled in the single digits. With the six double digit victories it is very possible nobody went home more embarrassed than Notre Dame. The Irish were supposed to be able to compete with the Cougars of Washington State and a lot of analysts, including former coach Bobby Knight, were taking Notre Dame as their final four selection out of the East Region. Losing 61-41 in a second round game will not get you far and it will be the Cougars not the Irish heading east to take on North Carolina in the sweet sixteen.
           
Thanks to that loss however, I was able to watch the second game from eight rows up right at half court. As we were walking around the concourse between games we were approached by two Notre Dame fans that could not bear to sit through another game after what they went through and wanted to give their seats to someone who would appreciate them. And if you are reading this, kind people, let me thank you for those tickets that was my fiancée and I in our Spartan gear you hooked up. It was an incredible game, two points separated Michigan State and Pittsburgh at the break, and after the Spartans sprinted out by ten to start the second half, the Panthers went on a 12-2 run to tie things right back up at 42. From there it was a dog fight and Michigan State came out on top returning to the sweet sixteen for the seventh time in eleven years where they will face number one seeded Memphis down in Houston. You couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere down low either as you could hear just about everything the players were saying on the court and we were seated right next to the MSU section. After the game was over we were able to exchange a few words with MSU guard Drew Neitzel as well as Coach Izzo. For this Denver based Spartan I couldn’t have asked for anything more.