Here we are less than a month into the season and nothing has gone right yet. To begin with Western Michigan went to Charleston with their highly thought of freshman class and lost 3 games in 3 days including an embarassing setback to SIU-Edwardsville. It hasn’t gotten any better either. They have suffered home losses to Loyola (IL) and IUPUI and are now 2-6 with road games against Holy Cross and UNLV up next. Eastern Michigan is 1-6 after losing star point guard Carlos Medlock in the preseason to a season ending foot injury. These teams were #1 and #2 in the MAC west based on every preseason publication. It looks like a long bleak winter for my mid major alma maters.
That gets us to Michigan State. What can you even say right now. They have looked less than impressive in their wins against IPFW, and Wichita State and were completely out classed by Shucks Howdy (Roy Williams) and his crew at Ford Field Wednesday night. They looked like they didn’t even want to be there, and completely laid down in front of the home fans. ( I was not among these fans and had to watch from a hotel room in Sault Ste. Marie on an unrelated note). A loss to the number 1 team in the country is nothing to get worked up about, but a 35 point beat down is cause for concern. Its hard to ignore how bad Michigan State has been on defense this season, and it is getting harder and harder to justify some of these bad losses that the program has experienced the last few seasons.
So thats where I’m at right now. Looking for some small hope that one of my favorite programs can turn it around and get this season going in the right direction. I need something to cheer for, and soon.
I won’t be going to any games this weekend. The only ones on my radar right now are Eastern Michigan’s next two home games. 12/8 vs. Wayne State and 12/20 vs. St. Bonaventure. I’ll report back.
Sam
