Rivalry Week: Take the Highway to the Great Divide

Ah yes, most of the attention in College Hoops this week will rest in a certain famous 10 mile radius they call Tobacco Road. However, if you're talking I-96 to US-23 South in about an hour of your time (traffic and weather pending of course) then you're talking Michigan vs. Michigan State. Don't worry I can hear your virtual laughter, I'm good like that.

And yes, for the first time in a long, long time this game actually means something. Well, it's sure as hell getting damn near close to being a rivalry once again. Much as the Wolverines have laughed off the Spartans in football (in years past) it always makes for more intrigue when there is at least the slightest threat that the dominant power can be dethroned. Up until this year for the better part of the past 10 years it's been Michigan dominating football and then State dominating in Hoops.

Look, it's just not a rivalry when one team is winning 49-3 in football and the other is closing out Senior Day with a 30 point drubbing. Admit it, if you root for either side - it's more compelling when the two sides are reasonably competitive. Look, I'm not saying that Michigan has caught the Spartans in Hoops. No, they've got quite a ways to go. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say the Wolverines and the fucking lame ass "Maize Rage" crowd has a chance to pull off the upset.

We all know the fate of the Michigan basketball program was arguably sealed when Steve Fisher let the boosters fill the Fab Fives Nike sneakers with wads of cash. However, the real turning point came when Maurice Taylor got in that accident with a recruit named Mateen Cleaves in the back seat. Cleaves chose State and the rest is history.

Since that point the programs have gone in reverse. Michigan State has won a Championship, created the goofy and yes lame in it's own right "Izzone" and made a habit of being a Final Four caliber team - year in and year out. I think Michigan has been back to the Tournament, but once or twice on the weight (pardon the pun) of Tractor Traylor's shoulders. You get my drift...we're kinda talking about Mateen Cleaves and a curse in the same light as they used to talk about the Red Sox and Babe Ruth. Who knew?

Well, sometimes it does take just that one "key" player to change the direction of a program and get the ball rolling again. Mateen was that player for MSU and the reality is Michigan might have the program changing kid in uniform tomorrow night. His name is Manny Harris. Yes, he's a bit emotional at times, but watching from the other side (as a Spartan fan) - it's hard not to realize that he's fully capable of swinging the direction of U of M Hoops.

Oddly enough, I'm ready for it. I look forward to a renewed heated rivalry between the schools. It's just not the same when one "owns" the other. Michigan is getting close, the gap is getting narrow. Tomorrow night the Spartans will trot out a highly favored squad with Final Four aspirations. A few years back, you could laugh it off and chalk up a victory for Sparty. However, that's not gonna be the case tomorrow night.

Michigan has already beaten Duke, UCLA and hung with Connecticut. The Tournament may have to wait another year, but a win over Michigan State might re-open their name in "bubble" discussion. And that's Michigan...bobbing on the service. Are they ready to make this a rivalry again? We shall soon find out.