Tomahawk maintains his winning progs record at 17-6, while The Boss is left evaluating his skills with his 11-12 record.
NO. 16 MSU VS. MICHIGAN
4:00 p.m. Saturday at Breslin Center
ON TV ESPN
THE BOSS
MSU 74, Michigan 73
Although MSU is struggling right now, this could be just the game to get it back on track. The Wolverines were struggling before demolishing Minnesota on Wednesday.
I really think that this game could get ugly in a good way for MSU, but I can easily see U-M coming in and stealing one. Color me worried.
TOMAHAWK
MSU 68, Michigan 58
As if MSU needed any extra motivation to get out of its current funk, this is its chance to avenge the loss at Crisler earlier this season. You think they won't be up for that? Me neither.
Plus, the Wolverines have suffered more injuries than the cast of "Jackass." Expect the Spartans to make turtleneck soup out of Tommy Amaker.
NO. 1 CONNECTICUT VS. NO. 11 WEST VIRGINIA
3:45 p.m. Saturday at the West Virginia University Coliseum
ON TV CBS
THE BOSS
West Virginia 77, Connecticut 71
Connecticut will more than likely fall from the No. 1 spot due to its loss to Villanova, but don't fret, this is still a good team.
This looked like such a great game just a week ago, but both teams (especially West Virginia) have suffered disappointing losses. With the Mountaineers holding home court, I'll have to go with Tomahawk's favorite (Kevin Pittsnogle) in this one.
TOMAHAWK
Connecticut 72, West Virginia 66
Tsk, tsk, Bishop. Stealing my Pittsnogle thunder? I might sue you for copyright infringement. Besides, you didn't even pick the right week to jump on the Pittsnogle bandwagon. The Huskies have outrebounded their Big East opponents by almost 10 per game; the Mountaineers are getting outrebounded by that same amount. That's a recipe for disaster.
NO. 17 GEORGETOWN VS. NO. 4 VILLANOVA
12:00 p.m. Sunday at the Pavilion
THE BOSS
Villanova 68, Georgetown 57
Here we have another solid Big East game. If Villanova wins this game, and if I had a vote, the Wildcats would be my No. 1 team when the next poll comes out. But, alas, I do not have a vote and the media's precious Duke Blue Devils will probably get the nod. This will be a tough game for Villanova, but it has more than enough firepower to get the job done in crunch time.
TOMAHAWK
Villanova 64, Georgetown 59
Villanova: Nine wins in a row. Georgetown: No wins in a row. I'll take the momentum.
Villanova: Has beaten three ranked teams at home. Georgetown: Has yet to win a big road game. I'll take the home-court advantage.
Villanova: Coming off an upset of No. 1 Connecticut. Georgetown: Once had Patrick Ewing. I'll take the one with smaller nostrils.
NO. 24 BUCKNELL VS. NORTHERN IOWA
12:00 p.m. Saturday at McLeod Center
ON TV ESPN2
THE BOSS
Northern Iowa 63, Bucknell 59
Welcome to the top 25, Bucknell.
Since losing to Duke, the Bison have rattled off 12 straight wins against such top competition as American, Lehigh and Colgate Don't forget about their nonconference win over Haverford. Yes, I'm laying on the sarcasm pretty thick, but this is a team that will be a threat to someone (ask Kansas) in the NCAA Tournament. It's just too bad that its stint in the top 25 will be a week shorter than U-M's.
TOMAHAWK
Bucknell 67, Northern Iowa 62
Northern Iowa didn't respond very well to its brief stint in the top 25, losing twice in a week.
Bucknell seems to be handling the success better. Before the Bison's last game, the team bus driver scrawled "No. 24" across the windows with soap. The coach wiped it off before his players could see it. The Bison won by 20. I'm buying.
(Plus, watch out for Bucknell guard Rob Thomas. He's not crazy, he's just a little unwell.)
The Boss is a State News basketball reporter; he can be reached at bishop20@msu.edu.
Tomahawk is a State News basketball reporter; he can be reached at kellert1@msu.edu.
