This post is going to be overwhelmingly positive, but I'm going to get the ugly out of the way right from the start. Really disappointed we lost from the standpoint that there hasn't been much on the field success to glom onto lately (particularly for me since I am a Bengals fan)...really could've used a win for my sports psyche.
Now for the rest. This team showed INCREDIBLE heart tonight and I haven't seen effort like that on the hardwood, perhaps ever. To go into East Lansing and almost pull off that upset this early in the season is just plain incredible. Aaron Craft finds new ways to amaze me and completely took over at the end of regulation. I am going to freaking cry when he leaves. Where we might have lost is Scott not making that lay up, but hard to blame him when he created the play in the first place and negated the last shot for MSU. Amir played a HELL of a game, incredible defense on Payne and really worked hard all night...I love his improvement and he is the key to this team making a run. Thompson played his heart out and made some clutch shots. McDonald played some great D and put some great effort into cleaning the glass. Aside from Q, whom I was pretty disappointed in tonight, I really think this team pulled together and put a tremendous effort forth. I keep thinking I will never see greater effort from (insert any Matta team here) every year, but Matta teams are just always going to give this type of effort, win or lose.
As for Sparty, they hit 3s in the clutch like they were taking a practice shot. They deserve a ton of credit for hitting the big shots when they needed them. I feel like they won this game, not that we lost it. However, good luck hitting those shots and/or being in that position when they come to Columbus.
Overall, a fantastic ball game and I am very encouraged with where this team is at right now.