Senior Day at Michigan State - Neitzel

Michigan State has been pretty darn good ever since Tom Izzo took over the coaching reigns. They always do pretty well in the tournament and, if my memory is correct, they won the whole thing back in the year 2000. I like Tom Izzo. It appears that he runs a clean program. And hell, he gave Marquette Tom Crean (thank you!).

I was watching the Indiana/Michigan State game on Sunday with Pops. Michigan State was absolutely killing the Hoosiers for most of the game. They were up by 30 for most of the second half. It was Senior Day, the last home game for Michigan State’s two seniors, and Izzo put them back on the floor with five minutes left. With three minutes left Drew Naymick, the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots, swatted one of Indiana’s shots into the stands. Izzo immediately took him out of the game to a standing ovation. On the way out Naymick even stopped at half court and kissed the Michigan State logo. They were showing him, his family, the fans, and everyone was all smiles. You couldn’t help but feel good for the guy. Their other senior, Drew Neitzel, was still on the floor.

Then the network switched to commercials.

The commercials continued for five minutes.

When they came back on the air they were showing the UCLA/Arizona game.

My dad and I looked at each other at the same time. “What about…?”

We didn’t get to see Drew Neitzel walk off the court at his last home game. We didn’t get to see the crowd cheer him as they did Naymick. We didn’t get to see him also stop at half court and kiss the logo. Nope, we were robbed.

Drew Neitzel always gave the Wisconsin Badgers a tough time. When the games were close and coming down to the wire Neitzel was the guy you didn’t want to have the ball (if you were a Badger fan). He isn’t an intimidating guy or anything standing 6’0” and 185 lbs, but he could shoot the shit out of the gym. His career three-point percentage is 40%. At the end of games, especially if they were down by three, I wouldn’t even look at the rest of the court. I kept my eye on Neitzel because I knew he was going to work his tail off to get open behind the three point line and set himself up for a shot. I had a lot of respect for the kid.

I wish I knew what network was carrying that game. I’d write in and bitch slap the punk ass biotch who switched us over to the UCLA game. I know the game was a blowout but you had to see the whole Senior Day/standing ovation thing coming after Naymick left the court. It was probably coming up pretty soon as Izzo wouldn’t want to chance Neitzel getting injured. But no, they had to take history away from us.

Oh, and you network execs: Midwesterners don’t give a fuck about the west coast. Putting the UCLA/Arizona game on just added insult to injury.

To Drew Neitzel: it was a pleasure watching you play even though you were nailing the Badgers with your deep threes. The hustle and determination you displayed is what makes college basketball great. I wish you luck in the Big Ten tournament and the NCAA's.