Barring a crazy turn of events, Michigan State fans shouldn't expect the Spartans to win the Big Ten regular season title this season (Purdue, at 12-1, would have to lose three of its final five games and Michigan State would have to run the table in its final six conference games to tie the Boilermakers).
Feb. 18, 2008: Lansing State Journal: "It's tough. You work your whole career, your whole life for opportunities," MSU senior guard Drew Neitzel said quietly, after his 21-point night was wasted in the defeat. "They pass you up, they pass you by. It's not from lack of effort, from some guys. It's just tough, but we're not gonna quit."
One word best sums up the latest stymied quest: Turnovers. The Spartans simply can't keep from committing them in droves. MSU had 12 in the first half and 19 in the game, allowing an early 15-4 lead to squirt from its grasp.
MSU has been trying to fix its issue with giveaways all season, to no avail, which helps explain why coach Tom Izzo began his postgame news conference as such: "I'm disgusted, I'm embarrassed, and I'll take any questions you have."
"It's inexcusable," Izzo said moments later. "If I was an MSU fan, I'd be very disappointed in the coach, because I keep saying the same things and they don't change."
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