Somewhere of Big Ten country, the Michigan St. charter jet speeds towards home. On board most everyone is asleep except for a few coaches who are still pondering a fifth straight loss. In the back of the plane, Kalin Lucas is trying to sleep but getting more agitated by the minute.
Kalin Lucas(mumbling): No….not that….no….NO…..NO….AHHHHHHH!!!!!
Several Voices: Shhhh…hey whose doing that? Be quiet.
Tom Izzo hears the commotion and comes to talk to Lucas along with Raymar Morgan
Tom Izzo: What’s wrong, son?
Lucas: Uh…nothing…just can’t sleep
Izzo: Nightmares?
Lucas: Well sort of…
Raymar Morgan: Man, are you having the same one again where you are shooting free throws naked in the Breslin Center and all of sudden Judd Heathcoate comes running out of the tunnel with a knife?
Izzo gives Morgan a strange look.
Lucas: Man shut up! You told me you would never tell anyone. Sorry coach, no it’s not a nightmare, I can’t even get to sleep.
Izzo: When this start?
Lucas: Last December. Then it was just a nightmare. I would see them a few times in my dreams but after awhile it went away. Then in April I saw them again…it was horrible…for awhile I would see them when I closed my eyes. Now, I don’t even have to do that, I am seeing them everywhere even with my eyes open.
Izzo: Now wait, who is “them”
Lucas(becoming increasingly panicked): Them? THEM? Oh wait…there they are again…they’re behind you! Look Coach, they’re right there!!!
Izzo turns around and sees only rows of sleeping players, some of them stirring due to the commotion.
Izzo: I don’t see anything, Now,Kailin just calm down,
Lucas: I can’t coach….(beginning to hyperventilate)…I see them with my waking eyes…they are everywhere..I CAN’T–I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO..MAYBE IF I CLAW MY EYES OUT THEY’LL GO AWAY…SOMEONE HELP ME…PLEASE!!!
Izzo grabs Lucas’ hands and holds them down, asks Morgan to get the team trainer.
Izzo: Now, Kalin just settle down. We are going to help you but you have to calm down. Now, first of all I need to know. What are you seeing? If you just tell me that maybe I can figure out how to help you.
Lucas is a little calmer down but clearly about to lose it again. He is rocking back and forth, his eyes dart to and fro. He looks around the cabin of the plane with a look of complete paranoia then leans forward to talk to Izzo.
Lucas: I…I…I see Tar Heels.
Izzo: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think if the Spartans ever see the name North Carolina on a schedule again, they’ll start crying. But you know, I’m tired of seeing them too.
Hey now. Lets not pile on. I’m glad we beat MSU, but I also have tremendous respect for Tom Izzo. He is very similar to Coach Smith – modest, soft spoken, praises his players instead of himself (and blames himself instead of his players), heavily emphasizes going to class and graduating… There are a lot of similarities in the way both MSU and UNC run their basketball programs.
Nice movie reference THF.
.
I agree with 850inExile aka, the one with a really long name
I have a real close friend who works for MSU football in strength and conditioning and he has nothing but good words for Izzo. Izzo coaches fair play and good sportsmanship as well.With that being said, I think THF was more commenting on how frustrating it must be for some of the current MSU players to get better each time we meet and still end up in the same boat. I also look at it as a way to have fun with and not make fun of an opponent that we respect.
I have respect for MSU but I never ever want to play them again….of course, they feel the same.
I think Tom Izzo runs a great program. His teams play hard and always seem to excel in defense and rebounding. His program is clean.
He annoys me with his sideline whining, but not as much as some others.
I love to beat them because of the way they manhandled us back in 99-00. They are always a quality win.
Now the next two big games, I want to stomp the teams. Just hate Kentucky (except when playing DOOK) and have no affection for Rick Barnes (though respect his ability to recruit).
Don’t think we’ll beat UK. Too much riding on it for them to lose. Two top 10 teams; Savior of program vs defending national champ (and absolutely HATED) Carolina. It’s gonna be the most hyped game Rupp has seen in years. It’s their national championship. And after our win vs MSU, they’ll be ready.
Man, UNC has just owned the Big 10 in recent years. By the way, I know the ads on this site are served remotely and THF deserves all the money this site can generate, but it’s pretty funny to me to see ads for MSU and NCSU gear pop up after recent posts.
I actually think that we match up pretty well with UK. I like our chances against Kentucky and have since I saw the schedule. They are probably the only team we’ll see this year who have less experience than we do. They turn the ball over a ton, and are shaky on defense. Wall is obviously great, but there’s no one else in the country I’d rather have guarding him than Marcus Ginyard. I also have no fear of them draining a crazy number of 3s. Kentucky should be tough, but there’s a lot to like about the matchup.
“I also have no fear of them draining a crazy number of 3s.”
Like this? ==> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOp6NkxHxoA
If Kentucky can get Tayshaun Prince an extra game of eligibility I’ll be afraid. Kentucky is acquainted with NCAA violations, so I guess anything is possible.
Hahahahaha! Awesome THF!
Frankly, I’ll be ok if we don’t play MSU for a while. I’m getting quite tired of them.