Soccer!

Congratulations to the MSU men’s soccer team, who added a Big Ten Tournament title to their regular season conference title by beating Indiana 1-0 Sunday afternoon.  The team has received a bye through the first round of the NCAA Tournament and will host the Dayton/UIC winner in East Lansing next Tuesday (the 25th) at 1:00.  Thanksgiving week soccer in Michigan!  Sounds like a good reason to play hookie from work.

Rankings Update Only in a Very Technical Sense

• MSU slides up one spot to #5 in the AP poll.  A small swing of 15 points moved them ahead of Pitt.  Duke is the only team to move more than one spot–falling from #8 to #10 after their close call against Rhode Island.
• We hold steady at #7 in the coaches’ poll.

Monday Night Links

• Ex-MSU basketball coach Newell dies at 93
  I’m embarrassed to confess I’d forgotten that Pete Newell, who passed away today, coached at MSU (from 1950-1954).  A true giant of the game.
• Something Afoot in West Lafayette?
  Hoopraker is back.  And Mrs. SW is now a minor Big Ten blogosphere celebrity, getting a shout out for her Austin Thornton fandom.
• Everyone looks good in November!
  Big Ten Geeks run down early conference action.
• Landry’s Actions Speak Volumes
  Hoops Marinara on Marcus Landry’s 23-point, 3-block performance to help Wisconsin fend off Long Beach State.
• The Morning After: Your 2008-09 Indiana Hoosiers, I think
  The Tom Crean era at IU starts with a win.  Inside the Hall likes the effort the new guys are showing, among other things.
• Basketball Season Preview With Sports Illustrated and Rivals
  Boiled Sports gets SI’s Luke Winn to share some thoughts on the Boilermakers. There’s a steak dinner on the line between Winn and Seth Davis over who wins the Big Ten title. (Davis likes us.)
• What New Three-Point Line?
  TAFKATBTW with something a little more “bloggy” this year.  Doesn’t see that the extra 12 inches are making much difference so far.
• My Sportsman: Stephen Curry
  The peerless Joe Posnanski nominates Curry for SI’s Sportsman of the Year.  No argument here.