This evening at 6:07 PM (what is up with those strang tip-off times?), Michigan State will play the Butler Bulldogs for a shot at the NCAA national championship game on Monday. It's yet another magnificent coaching performance by Tom Izzo, and proof of what this team was capable of doing when and if they set their minds to it.

Some naysayers (there are always some naysayers out there) point out that MSU has had an "easy" road to the Final Four. You know what? You can only play the teams that are in front of you, and have no control over who wins in the other brackets (and anyone who thinks New Mexico State, Maryland, Northern Iowa, and Tennessee were pushovers is sadly mistaken). Plus, when one considers that Kalin Lucas has been out since just before halftime of the second round game, Delvon Roe has a knee that causes him constant pain, and Chris Allen is just now making progress from a foot injury, the Spartans road to the Final Four has not been the least bit easy.

Well, I can hear my house descending into chaos, so I better run. No matter what happens tonight, it's been another great year for Michigan State basketball.