Syracuse Tag

Early season tournaments are all over and the non-conference schedules will be coming to end for college teams across the country.  The road to the Final Four truly begins in January when all schools enter conference play.  We have witnessed some great basketball in the early going but any good coach would tell you that nothing compares to games played in conference.  Your conference opponents are the teams that know you the best and vice versa.  Conference play is also a true measuring stick for those who have national championship aspirations.

The real season begins in January and the students will be returning from their break to their designated sections in arenas throughout college basketball.  For Duke its the "Cameron Crazies", for Michigan State its the "Izzone", and for the University of Illinois its the "Orange Crush".  The lifeline of college basketball is the crazy atmosphere created by student sections like the ones I just mentioned.  The cheers, the slams, and the creative signs give these student sections character in the chaos.  As a fan I love what each student sections brings to the arena and I can't wait for conference play to begin.

Last week we ushered in a new season for the pro's and tonight we open the 2012-13 collegiate campaign.  Fans have longed for a night with an identity, a night in which we can truly deem as the "season opener".  Well, tonight we get exactly that.  Last year Michigan State played against North Carolina in what is now known as the Carrier Classic.  Over 8,000 fans watched the Tar Heels beat the Spartans 67-55 on the USS Carl Vinson air craft carrier.

The event received overwhelming support and attention so they have brought it back for another year.  This time the event will be a double-header that features both the Men and Women squads from Ohio State.  The Buckeye Men will take their number 4 ranking onto the court to challenge Big East opponent Marquette.

Along with the Carrier Classic there will be dozens of games across the country and one in Germany.  Yeah that's right.  I said Germany.  The MSU Spartans (14) will once again open their season with a military theme.  The boys from East Lansing, MI will take on the recently upturned UConn Huskies.  Two marquis programs in a rare over-seas game.  In fact, it will be the first college basketball game ever held in Europe.  Guess Tom Izzo just loves to be the first team to play basketball on courts not inside of a gym.