A couple real whoppers from Monday's JRIB show. One from the host and one from a panelist:
"(MSU) may not be best of the remaining four but no one is hotter and that's not a coincidence because Izzo always has them playing their best when it matters most"
Fact-check:
Duke won the ACC Tournament.
West Virginia won the Big East Tournament.
Butler has not lost since December 22nd. That is a 24 game win streak.
Michigan State LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND of the Big 10 Tournament.
So, I don't know what the basis is for claming they are the "hottest" team in the tournament?
Here is the other comment which seems to lack any basis in reality:
"Butler did not necessarily advance through tough competition. They had the easiest road to the Final Four than anyone else had." --- Vincent Thomas (of NBA.Com & Slam Magazine)
Fact check:
Butler beat the #1 and #2 seeds (Syracuse and Kansas State) in their bracket!
Michigan State, on the other hand, has beaten nothing higher than a #4 seed (Maryland).
So, how does that argument hold up!?!!? (Let alone the frontal assault on grammar!)
Have you not watched the games? MSU has won 4 games by a total of 13 points. That has never been done before in the NCAA tourney. The next best was 15 points. Clearly this proves that MSU is hotter than any other team. They toy with these other teams and then slam the door closed with great clutch coaching. As Jim Demint would point out by losing they are the real winners. Every other team left has the unfortunate stigma of having a winning streak going in. Izzo, ever the genius, avoided this with a timely loss in the first round of the big ten tourney. The bigger question is, are they the hottest team in the final 4 ever or just recent history? Only time will tell.
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