For years, we’ve seen the MSU men’s basketball program practically dominate in-state recruiting. Of the last 12 Mr. Basketball award recipients, seven have committed to the Spartans. Two others have gone out of state, two have gone to Michigan and one to Western Michigan.

In his short time as a recruiter at MSU, Dantonio has made an immediate impact taking a large portion of Michigan’s football talent from under the nose of underachieving U-M head coach Rich Rodriguez as the Wolverines have faltered during his tenure.

Both trends are evident in the season.

MSU has won 17 of the last 20 against U-M on the hardwood while Dantonio has led MSU to a rare two-game winning streak against the sputtering Wolverine football program.

So where does Boss and his group fit into the equation?

To me, it all started in 2008 when Eastern Michigan, then under the leadership of Boss, outscored the Spartans 13-8 in a series split. Boss was bringing talent to Ypsilanti that could compete with the Big Ten programs.

When he was hired to lead the Spartans after former head coach David Grewe left in 2008, Boss brought that mentality to East Lansing. In a season that has seen unfamiliar success in the program, players repeatedly have harped that, with all due respect to the Mid-American Conference schools, the Spartans should be winning games against Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.

MSU is a bigger school with a larger audience, fine facilities, more of a budget and much more formidable competition.

Last year, the tides might have turned even more when the Spartans took two of three from U-M (including MSU’s first win in Ann Arbor since 2004 in front of a massive crowd at Wilpon Complex).

The Wolverines are a game ahead of the Spartans in the Big Ten standings (MSU still has a better overall record) but are experiencing their second straight mediocre season while MSU is on the upswing. They aren’t scheduled for a Big Ten series this year, but the two teams will meet for a nonconference set on May 11-12. If the Spartans can manage a sweep, it would make waves in the Michigan college baseball scene and do wonders for Boss’ recruiting.

But, also importantly, the Spartans must continue to hammer the MAC schools in their series each year. Heading into Tuesday’s rematch against lowly Western Michigan, MSU was 7-5 in the last two years. Central Michigan, who MSU plays at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at Dow Diamond in Midland, Mich., has been a perennial force in the MAC for years, and Eastern Michigan has some talent, but MSU must sweep the Broncos annually to rack up important wins for the sake of an NCAA Tournament at-large bid and in-state bragging rights.

To be a power in the conference and on the national scene, programs must be able to command their state.

It’s brought the men’s basketball team Big Ten and national titles and restored Dantonio’s football team to conference prominence. If Boss and his players continue to take care of business in Michigan, great things could be in store for the future.

Joey Nowak is a State News baseball reporter. He can be reached at_ nowakjo2@msu.edu..