The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.
Welcome back to Sports Roundtable, state news sports podcast covering all things MSU sports. But we got some fun topics today. I am Jacob Smith. And I by.
Madi:I'm Madi Warden. Sorry.
Jacob:Sorry to didn't
Madi:catch you off there. No.
Jacob:I know. But, welcome back to another episode of Sports Roundtable. I'd say we're gonna be talking a little bit, MSU with a a very exciting record that was just broken. Some of you may be able to kinda figure out what that is before we even mention it. But Drum
Madi:roll, please.
Jacob:Tom Izzo is a new record holder. Woo hoo. He broke the record for most big ten men's basketball wins. Absolutely unbelievable. So we're gonna touch on that because, obviously, we can't go a podcast episode without acknowledging the GOAT, the greatness of Tom Izzo.
Jacob:But
Madi:Yeah. Absolutely. And I think that I think I think the stars aligned a little too perfectly when we played Indiana at home for him to break that record. Everybody was like, oh my gosh. It's the first team that he got his big 10, first big 10 win against.
Madi:It's Bob Knight's Indiana Hoosiers, and now he has a chance to break Bob Knight's record against Indiana at the Breslin Center. And it didn't happen. But like I said, I think the stars maybe aligned a little too perfectly that night. It was a good game, no matter what happened. But against, Illinois, you get the season sweep over Illinois, and you get the big 10 record.
Madi:So that's that's a huge win for Michigan State just in general. Still trying to hold on to that second place spot in the big 10, trying to get those two bye weeks heading into the big ten tournament. I mean, that's that's a huge win for Michigan State.
Jacob:Yeah. That was a great game, and I was actually in attendance to the Indiana one. And you could kinda tell, like you said, it was kinda love it too perfect for the scenario, but, they shot 17.4% from three that game. Like, obviously, the three point struggles have been what they have been this entire season, but you're not gonna win many, if any, basketball games shooting that poorly from the field Right. Especially from three point range.
Jacob:They shot 38.2% from the field, in general besides three pointers. So, obviously, it was not, what we were accustomed accustomed to seeing from Michigan State that game, but I think that bouncing back against Illinois Mhmm. It was, like, the perfect response. And I don't care. Like, obviously, it would have been I was at the end of the game.
Jacob:Nice to be seen, like, broken, at home or whatever. But playing against in Illinois, you already beat him once, and that game was was also what it was. It was a little bit chippy. Obviously, there was Illinois fans on x crying all the time about the refs and how that went. And Yep.
Jacob:We all kinda got our laugh at that. But to go back in there again, go to Champaign, take down a very, very good Illinois team to break the record, at that. Obviously, it was, like, a great game just because of how much adversity we kinda showed. MC went down by, I think, close to 15 points in that first half and then stormed all the way back. I mean, that was fascinating.
Madi:Yeah. Absolutely. And that was like you said, it's just the way that this team can bounce back from being down at half, and then we take the I think the most we had in oh, wait. No. I'm thinking of Purdue.
Madi:I'm jumping too far ahead. But, just being able to come back from being down, and show that perseverance of this Izzo squad, I think that that's something that they've done this whole season, and they just continue to do it again and again, in these big games.
Jacob:Yeah. And Izzo said this entire season's motto is based off strength in numbers, and they've shown that every single game. I mean, it doesn't matter how many points I feel like we're down. I feel like there's always that chance that Michigan State's gonna come back just because of how many new guys we can throw in. Even if teams are on a run against us, similar to how Illinois was in that first half of that game.
Jacob:I mean, we throw in new guys. We're getting ten, eleven guys checked into the game. So it's, like, Illinois is getting a new look pretty much every stoppage of play. So I think that's just why this team's had so much success this year, especially. And then, obviously, in that Illinois game, it was very nice to see Jackson Kohler kinda come along, especially in that second half.
Jacob:He really came alive, nine to 13 field goals on 23 points and four or five from three, which for Jackson Kohler, I mean, that's if you told me that sentence maybe two years ago, like, when he was a freshman, I would have called you the craziest person ever that watches MSG sports. He his three point shot has come such a long way.
Madi:Yeah. I think even talking about that a little bit, you see these different players who will get behind the arch and shoot a three. Now, it shows just how much work that they put in at practice and just being able to play every position on the court is a huge thing, especially for Jackson Goler who has come such a long way from his freshman year.
Jacob:Agreed. I feel like that one of those games is about to happen because he's been taking a very, very, increased a load of threes this season. But I think it's also a good thing. It expands his, his bag, I guess, as you would say, and, provide some new looks for the defense, provide some new moves for him to be able to do. I mean, if you can pick and pop a three like that, his release is quick.
Jacob:It gets it off. So, nice little Jackson Cole performance there, and I think that is something that's really helped out MSU this season. They're big play. They're they're bigs. The three bigs.
Jacob:Simon Simone Zapala, Carson Cooper, and Jasmine Cole. I know Xavier Booker is technically a big little bit of a stretch for, his development hasn't been exactly what we've been accustomed to or wanting to see. But besides the point, the three those three bigs that I mentioned, have also really stepped up for MSU. I think that also, played a little bit in the game of last night against Purdue, which we'll get to. But, I think that just every like, the way that they're all contributing is really special, especially Kohler.
Jacob:I think Carson Cooper coming in too. He's he doesn't show up in a stat sheet, but he will play defense. He'll keep MSU in the game. I think that's also been a really cool thing to see.
Madi:Absolutely. And you talk about strength in numbers. You talk about the depth of the lineup. It it's clear for, the Spartan team and kinda I kinda wanna jump ahead to Purdue. You talk about win number three fifty four one or yeah.
Madi:Three fifty four against Indiana. How about three fifty five against Purdue? It's the second time that the Spartans have beat Purdue in 11 games. And that was just, that was just overall a great performance. So I think at the end of the game, we ended up leading most by, like, 12 points at one point.
Jacob:Yes.
Madi:35 points off the bench.
Jacob:Unreal.
Madi:You talk about that depth in the lineup. I mean, it's just insane to see what these guys have come from last year to what this team is now.
Jacob:Yep. And I definitely agree too. They had four scores in double digits, last night, and Simone Zapata and Jazza Collier also had nine each. So right on that cusp. I just like, it that was a scrappy game, and I feel like it kinda had that feel.
Jacob:We kinda figured going into the game, especially against the thirteenth ranked Purdue Boilermakers who were spot ahead of us, who also had seven losses coming into it. That it was gonna be a little bit scratchy. You knew it was gonna be close, but I just think that the defense really stepped up and also the offense because we've shown our weaknesses, I think, a little bit, especially against, Indiana when they came out in a two three zone, and they were really forcing us to shoot from the outside. Yeah. Really wanted to see what we could do to kinda handle that.
Jacob:And we've had teams come out and play us in his own, and then Purdue started the game playing us in his own. So I think that they were able to go Michigan State was able to overcome that, very well. They found the guard play was also really good as as and it's addition to the bigs as well because, especially for those like, Jace had a shot for like, first child game was a three by Jace, and, they had some threes falling, but those those big guys, like, Cooper, Zappala, Kohler, they were all down low, and they were all getting open. The guards were finding them. It was really, really good carving up of the zone defense, and that was so refreshing to see for a team that really hasn't been able to handle them too all this season.
Madi:Yeah. Absolutely. And, as well as the, points off the bench, like, we were kinda talking about too, 19 points off of turnovers. That's you talk about the defense and how these guys are playing and having these big guys being able to force the ball over, that played a huge role in the win against Purdue last night. And I I think that it was just so needed for that team because you talk about a guy like Zach Eady who has just been he was dominant when he was in the big ten.
Madi:And that was one of the reasons that we couldn't win against Purdue is because they had Zach Eady, seven four. How just a big guy. Being able to get that win over Purdue is just so huge for this team. You talk about getting that win over Illinois and how big that is for the big ten standings. Getting that win over Purdue is huge, and now they have Michigan coming up.
Madi:And Michigan's ranked eleventh, I think. They're they're just a smidge higher than Michigan State. That place is going to be off the charts. Yeah. Chrysler Center, the roof is gonna come off of that place.
Jacob:I know. They're not gonna play around on Friday. I know. It's it's I think it's a testament to what we're used to seeing with big ten basketball. It it's always it was always supposed to come down to Michigan and Michigan State.
Jacob:Like, them two teams at the top of the conference, it just means more. And that's, especially what we've grown up as fans with our age, how the big ten has always been for basketball. Mhmm. And, like, going off one that's pointing against these past few victories, I feel like leading up to every because there's every game for Michigan State to close the season is a big game, and that's been going back just February, even January, especially when you enter Big Ten conference play. Yeah.
Jacob:But I feel like every victory that they've kind of racked up for themselves is another victory where they create their own identity again. And they keep on doing it again and again and again. I know they're we talked about their motto being strength in numbers for the whole season, but I feel like every single win has a different feel to it and a different, like, aspect of basketball in itself just kind of arise. That that defense yesterday was just beautiful. Holding a a fire powering offense like Purdue to 66 points, forcing Braden Smith to have six turnovers.
Jacob:Because Braden Smith has been around for a long time. Great point guard. Probably gonna be all big ten first team and, you come out, force him to not get a comfortable shot. Every time he'd go up, he'd either shoot a tough shot or he'd look to kick out, and then we'd swarm and be able to turn the ball over. I mean, it was just beautiful to watch.
Jacob:Every game feels different. And it just like, that also contributes to their death. How deep this team is, how each person on the floor can do, different things, especially guys. If you got, like, Cohen Carr and Frankie Fiddle, they're playing like they did on offense both and defense, nightmare for teams coming off. Trey Holloman leading the second unit.
Jacob:Yeah. Carson Cooper holding everybody down. I I think it's just great.
Madi:Yeah. And you're absolutely right about they have just found a different way to win in every single victory that they've had this season. They've had offensive just powerhouse games. They've had great defensive games. They've had games where they're just taking points off of turnovers.
Madi:There are so many different ways that this team has been able to win. And, honestly, I feel like Purdue last night was kinda just a culmination of all of those ways that they've won, and they just brought everything full circle. I feel like Purdue was probably one of their most put together games, especially in that second half. They just played outstanding against Purdue. And then going back to what you said about, it's it's just so much more fun to play in the big 10 when Michigan and Michigan State are both at the top of the conference.
Madi:It's so entertaining for these teams to just rule.
Jacob:Yeah.
Madi:It's so much fun.
Jacob:Big ten's supposed to be.
Madi:Yeah. Absolutely. It's just it's so much fun to see these teams just be competitive, and one's not getting blown out by the other. It's it's fun.
Jacob:Yeah. I mean, can't even describe or count how many instant classics have been made from those teams matching up. But that being said, they do have a big game on Friday coming up against the head like Michigan like we're saying. Mhmm. Michigan holds a one game lead in the big 10 standings over Michigan State, with two losses in the conference.
Jacob:Michigan State or three losses in the conference. Michigan State has four or no?
Madi:No. We have three. No.
Jacob:We have three. Michigan has two. Oh my gosh. I butchered that. But yeah.
Jacob:So one game lead for Michigan over, Michigan State in the big 10 standings that win last night also, put a 1.5 game lead, one and a half game lead over Purdue, and Wisconsin's hanging in there now. They moved up to the third spot, with one game back at Michigan State. But I think this matchup on Friday is gonna be really intriguing, just because I feel like Michigan State hasn't kinda seen the look that Michigan brings out. Obviously, with Dan Danny Wolf and Vladimir Golden, two really, really strong centers. Danny Wolf is also pretty much like a stretch four, kinda how he plays, but he's seven feet tall.
Jacob:He's gonna you're gonna have to guard him on the perimeter. It's gonna be a big test for guys like Jackson Kohler, Carson Cooper, Simone Zappala. I like putting Xavier Booker on him, but I just feel like Booker's lack of offense in the last few games have kinda kinda diminished his playing time a little bit, but, also, I think it's just gonna be a different look than what Michigan State's seen kinda this season, especially in the big 10. I think that's why Michigan, is a little bit scary for them, but, also, nevertheless, it should be a great game.
Madi:Yeah. Absolutely. And going back to what you said, we haven't seen a Michigan team coached by somebody different in quite a few years. And, obviously, you see the downfall with Juwan Howard and how he recruited last year, and then you get in Dusty May. Is that Yeah.
Madi:Yeah. You get in Dusty May, and he's just done an outstanding job with that Wolverine squad just trying to put them back on the board, bring them back to the horizon. And it's gonna be so interesting to see how Michigan and Michigan State match up, especially coming into a game where anything can happen. Just a completely revamped Michigan Wolverine team, against honestly, you could say a revamped Michigan State team.
Jacob:Yeah.
Madi:So, yeah, it's gonna be a fun one. It's gonna be fun one. Complete different look from last year too when
Jacob:Nizzo set his record with 700 wins, on his birthday. That was a fun one against Michigan, but, obviously, a team that had, I think, eight or nine wins, like, total last season Mhmm. Coming in at the top of the conference, definitely gonna be a tough game, but a great environment nevertheless. Michigan State closed out the season against Michigan twice in the final month of the season, so it should definitely be exciting, especially on Friday. We're gonna transition a little bit now.
Jacob:Give a little another shout to MSU baseball. We were talking about them last week on the pod.
Madi:Yes. We were.
Jacob:Kinda just, like, didn't really know what to expect. Like, that was kind of our whole message, but they start they're starting the season on four and o, which is really, really exciting for Michigan State baseball. First time since 2020, they started four and o. They also started six and o in 2016, so they're best start since those two campaigns. But, yeah, I'm gonna see baseball.
Jacob:This is the they're also fourteen and three, and Jake Boss is 17 season opener. So kind of expected, but wins over series wins over Western Michigan and Monmouth. Very Very excited for the program, I believe.
Madi:Absolutely. And you said we talked about it last week. We knew that Joey Jurwa came out of the transfer portal, and he there was something in the air for this team of him jumping back out and recommitting, coming back to Michigan State. 11 strikeouts for him in the season debut against Western Michigan, and it it put him, up for a big 10 pitcher of the week. His first career honor, I mean, he's a sophomore junior.
Madi:So So Yeah. It's just it's nice to see him get that recognition and have such a great game against western, against western. A first pitcher to win this honor since Harrison Cook in 2023. So it's been a long time coming for the Spartans for, getting a big 10 pitcher of the week. And, yeah, you're right.
Madi:It it was a great start for, the MSU baseball team. Didn't know what to expect. It's it's good for them. Good for them.
Jacob:Joe Joe was a c junior coming into this campaign. So, obviously, for him, very, very good confidence booster. We knew he was gonna be good, but just to be able to get that recognition, like, especially after a hot start, it's it's great to see. Obviously, like, kinda kinda kinda wanna see how their offense is gonna be because this is also a small sample size. It's four games.
Jacob:Obviously, it's a hot start, but, they only scored eight combined runs against Western Michigan, and they scored six combined runs in those, two games against Monmouth. So kinda just have to see what this is still in store. It's definitely still early because, obviously, we saw plenty of upsets around the college baseball world as well. Teams like Georgia go down and some other teams at the top. I believe Texas saying them might have lost at the top.
Jacob:So I think just kinda have to see how it goes for the rest of the season, but, definitely a good confidence booster nevertheless. And hopefully, the success continues because this is probably the most uncertainty we've kinda had in a long time for MSU baseball, good or bad, not coming into the season with bad expectations. There there could be some good in the air, so it's nice to see. Yeah.
Madi:It's definitely interesting to see, and hopefully, they can keep it rolling.
Jacob:Yeah. Definitely. Just wanted to give a little shout out to him because, we did talk about it last week and Yeah. Starting off like that, kinda have to recognize it where it's due. But onto our last segment of the show today, got some exciting exciting talking to do.
Madi:I had to wear the sweatshirt.
Jacob:Yeah. Matt Maddie came prepared. We had some kind of all star break.
Madi:Some kind of something.
Jacob:Some kind of some kind of hockey, some kind of something going on in the NHL. The four nations face off, if you haven't heard of it, I believe it took place of the NHL all star game this year.
Madi:Correct. Yeah. They placed it.
Jacob:I think that is probably the best decision they could have made. If you don't know what it is, it's a little bit of a tournament between Sweden, Finland, Canada, and USA. Kind of all the star players from each of those nations coming together, almost like Olympic style, round robin style, playing for their nations. And we're gonna get to how much impactful it was playing for their nations in a in a little bit, but, just a little bit of a round robin tournament style for the in place of the NHL all star game and what they've done in seasons past. But, Maddie, this was probably some of the most unbelievable hockey we've seen in a while.
Jacob:So kinda take me through what you saw. I know we saw a lot. But
Madi:Yeah. I mean, that was it was it's just been amazing to see these guys. I mean, who would have thought that Sydney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid would all be on a power play together. That's Unreal. Filthy.
Madi:It's unreal. It it honestly, the NHL has showed up, or has shown off I I don't even know how to put it. They have proved that they are one of the best leagues with replacing an NHL all star game with something like this. I mean, the NFL has the Pro Bowl. They play flag football.
Madi:The NBA has the NBA all star game.
Jacob:Which doesn't
Madi:change. Not really a game.
Jacob:Four times in the last week.
Madi:Right. And then you have NHL players who are still just ready to go and wanna keep playing, and then they put on that jersey. And everything goes out the window for these teams. And they're they're supposed to be on their all star break and a break, from playing regularly. And these guys have played harder than I've ever seen them play in their lives.
Madi:So, yeah, I mean, USA clinched a spot in the championship game. They have a rematch against Canada who they beat, just last week, last Saturday. And man, oh oh, man. What a start to that game.
Jacob:Three fights in nine seconds.
Madi:Oh. When is
Jacob:the last time you've seen that in a hockey game? I mean, other than Matt Ramey probably going out for the New York Rangers and going
Madi:and Last year
Jacob:kinda hitting everybody's seas, but oh my goodness.
Madi:Yeah. Last year, New Jersey and the New York Rangers at puck drop, every single player on the ice dropped the gloves. So we've seen it recently, but not for The US and Canada to do that. You have both Kachucks out on the ice, which is already deadly to begin with. Their dad, Keith, was definitely a fighter back in his day.
Madi:But Matthew drops the gloves first. Brady goes next. And just a few seconds later, JT Miller goes. I mean, that was just the most electric thing I have ever seen in my life. I didn't know what to do with myself, honestly.
Madi:I didn't know what to do. No.
Jacob:The announcers didn't either because they're like, alright. Well, let's see what happened. Oh, they dropping them again. Oh, and then they're dropping them again.
Madi:Like Do we turn into WWE play by play, or what do we do at this point? But man, oh, man, they've just been it's been absolutely electric. Obviously, Canada and The US have definitely had the powerhouse teams going into this. You have Canada with your Crosby's, your McKinnon's, your McDavids. You've got Cale Makar on defense.
Madi:But for The US, you've got I think that that comes back to talking Canada does, and Canada has really struggled with their goal tending through this tournament. They've had Jordan Binnington starting the past few games. Logan Thompson was absolutely robbed from the Capitals making this tournament. But then you have on the other side for The US, you have Connor Hellebuch, who's been a Vezna trophy nominee, won the Vezna last year. You've got Jake Ottinger and Jeremy Swaimin, who are both really young guys who are just great in the goal.
Madi:And and US The US really proved that they had the better goaltending, in that game against Canada.
Jacob:But, yeah, it's Unreal.
Madi:Unreal.
Jacob:I know. I think, obviously, the reason the fights occurred too to provide a little context was the booing of the national anthem. Obviously, Canada fans in the arena booed The United States national anthem, and I feel like the response was pretty pretty, self explanatory for that action. I mean, obviously, it's disrespectful for any nation to do the same. I believe that Canada also got boos in their game game following this one, Yep.
Jacob:Because if you're gonna start that fight, be prepared for what comes back your way. And, obviously, they got their SHIT handed to them, but Mhmm. Unbelievable game. That USA Canada game was also just a great display of hockey. And I think, like you mentioned, this is their all star break, so they're not even obligated to be here.
Jacob:Mhmm. Obviously, we're not seeing, like, every single person that we could have competing for these nations, but, I mean, USA has got, like, some Jack Eichel, Jake Gunsel, Jack Hughes, Dylan Larkin Yeah. Austin Matthews. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk all in offense. Yeah.
Jacob:Like, that if you put all those guys on a team in the NHL, they're winning probably 82 out of 82 games. It's it's unreal. So I think it's just a great product for the the average hockey viewer, average sports fan viewer because, obviously, I my hockey knowledge is not as great as yours as Maddie, but, like, I it had me tuned in getting on the edge of my seat. Obviously, the game was good too. Canada started out with the lead.
Jacob:USA scored three unanswered, including a Dylan Larkin goal to end the game. Our Lord and Savior out here in, Red Wing and Red Wing's country. Right?
Madi:Yes.
Jacob:But, yeah, Dylan Larkin kinda iced the game, and then they added a third empty netter for the for, United States. And, like, it was it's just I think other leagues should take notes because I I know it's not as hockey related, but you mentioned, how other leagues kind of their their all star game break, whatever it may be is kind of a joke. We just saw with the NBA. The NBA had their all star break the same exact weekend as the NHL did.
Madi:Mhmm.
Jacob:And, obviously, besides the dunk contest with Mac McClung three peating, the ratings were down. There was more commercial time than there was actual NBA all star game time with Kevin Hart talking for about two hours combined with commercials. Obviously, nobody wants to tune into that. So I think that that the NHL is doing the right thing. They realize that all star games really aren't maybe this the the exact thing that they were Yeah.
Jacob:February, nineties, eighties, just because of how people have kind of taken breaks a little bit, take it as a break because it is technically an all star break, and they don't put maybe the same effort in. But I think NHL really thought about it, took a mold of what it could be. The product's been great, and I'd love to see this continue in future years. It's it's obviously worked so far.
Madi:Yeah. It is absolutely has worked. And now they're bringing back the hockey world cup, which is gonna be unreal, especially if they put Russia into the play there. There's so many I mean, if you can get if well, Ovi's probably close to retirement here, but, man, if it were him and Kirill Kaprizov and just a few of those big Russian guys out on the ice together, that would be that would be a terrifying team. But coming into this championship game, I mean, this is this is a version of their gold medal game.
Jacob:Pretty much.
Madi:It's huge. This this game's huge. There's there's some questions up in the air of who will be playing for The US. Brady Tkachuk did not practice today. Matthew Tkachuk and Austin Matthews were both back out on the ice, but they have Charlie McAvoy who was unfortunately put in the hospital couple days ago due to an infection in his shoulder.
Madi:So they lose one of those guys as a defensive powerhouse. They have Jake Sanderson now who will play as their backup, but now they have to figure out who they're gonna call up as US Defenseman just to have backup. Everybody thought that it was gonna be Quinn Hughes, and Twitter went absolutely wild over that. And there were so many memes out there that were cracking me up about that. But unfortunately, Quinn Hughes is still recovering from his injury, before the All Star break.
Madi:So now they're calling up, Brett Pesci from the New Jersey devils. So Jake Sanderson gets his shot to play in the gold medal game with The US. Hopefully, Charlie McAvoy can recover before, regular season starts again. But, I mean, The US has played so hard that they're still they've still got guys that are a little banged up. So that's it's tough going back into the regular season, and hope but, hopefully, the US can pull off a win against Canada.
Madi:Go to USA.
Jacob:Yeah. Right. No. I know USA USA. But, obviously, facing anybody in a rematch that you already played and having it be one of the probably the most electric hockey games we've seen in
Madi:Mhmm.
Jacob:A good amount of time, it's gonna be hard to win twice. And I feel like Canada's roster outmatches us just a little bit, especially with adding on to these injuries. I mean, McIlwoy was completely all over the place in terms of hitting people and
Madi:Yeah. He had, like, four hits in the first thirty minutes of the game Yeah. Against Canada.
Jacob:Yeah. So he's he's been active on, those hits for pretty much this entire tournament. I just feel like it's it like I said, it might be a little bit tough. We we kinda don't know how this is gonna be, like, coming in. Because especially for a rematch, it it's never gonna be probably the same game that we saw first.
Jacob:I like, you can see that with playoff series in different sports. You see that with, pretty much any form of a rematch. They're not always gonna be the same story as the first one. We we may not we might not get another instant classic. We may as well.
Jacob:You never know. But I think that that it's also some of the risks that the NHL is taking with doing this tournament because you're risking that some of your star players in the NHL and for the league, not just for the all star break, are getting hurt. They're gonna miss some time, and then, obviously, that diminishes some team's hopes for how their season's gonna outlook. I mean, the Bruins are kinda right in the thick of things, and they need to contend for the playoffs. So losing McAvoy, someone like that, is not gonna be great for them, as their season resumes in a few days.
Jacob:So it's just that's the risk you take, but also you're getting a good product of hockey. I just really hope that USA can kinda pull it out because I feel like there's a little bit of adversity to be faced here. And, obviously, you you kinda just have to see how it goes. But, also, that's kind of thing. Like, once you're in a game with such high stakes, you wipe everything else out the window.
Jacob:Everybody's obviously been playing for their nation, especially for USA knowing that they're probably gonna be a little bit of an underdog. I mean, tickets are in the 7 hundreds for getting games. Like, $700 game. To get in. This game has so much implication.
Jacob:I feel like it's not Super Bowl level, but it's got that kind of feel for hockey. Mhmm. And and the for the mid season all star break, you can't get much better.
Madi:Especially for these diehard fans that just wanna see their country get a win like this. Obviously, we've been lucky with the u twenty world juniors the past couple years with USA going back to back gold medals for the first time in history. And Trey Augustine has been the goalie for that, so it really brings it back to MSU and our roots here. But you talk about it's so hard to win in these high state games, after a rematch. Michigan State hockey did it last year.
Madi:They lost to Michigan the first game, won four straight, and then lost in the regional round of the NCAA tournament for a chance to go to the frozen four on the line. So it's super tough to be in these games where you know that there is so much on the line, and whoever wins is gonna just hear from the other for a very long time.
Jacob:Yeah.
Madi:So, yeah, it's gonna be a fun game. It's gonna be so fun, to see these teams, try and match up again. Hopefully, we don't have to go on the penalty kill because I would rather not have to see Sydney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon on the ice again because that's a nightmare. But it's gonna be it's gonna be interesting for sure to see what the outcome of outcome of this game will be.
Jacob:Yeah. Most definitely. And like we said, everything's kinda just thrown out the window. Mhmm.
Madi:Mhmm. You
Jacob:really don't know what you're gonna get, but I I think USA is just gonna look a little bit different with how many injuries they're facing. Mhmm. Canada's probably gonna come in as a little bit of a favorite. Mhmm. But this tournament has been great nevertheless.
Jacob:I feel like it's just a product of what everything can be. Having this much stakes in, like, an all star break game is unbelievable. You this is something you'd see for an Olympic matchup, a World Cup matchup, World Juniors matchup. That's how it feels. But it's gonna be insane nevertheless.
Jacob:Whenever you get in a rematch and you know that the both teams are good, you're in for a treat. That game will be played Thursday, 8PM, which is tomorrow. So strap it in. I mean, it's it's gonna be fun. But, yeah, it's it's insane.
Madi:It's gonna be a fun one for sure. Like you said, there's a lot on the line. We beat Canada in their stomping grounds, and they're trying to do the same thing at TD Garden in Boston. So it's gonna be interesting to see who can really come out on top for this one. But shout out to Sweden and Finland too.
Madi:They played they both played really great games. Obviously, they don't have the Hughes's. They don't have the Kachucks. They don't have the Crosby's and all that kind of stuff. But they have really great players.
Madi:Sweden had Jesper Bratt, who had a really great tournament, Lucas Raymond. Shout out Lucas Raymond who played really well. And their goaltending was fairly good too. Better than honestly, Canada has the bottom goaltending throughout this whole tournament. They just they got really unlucky with that.
Madi:And for Finland, they had Mikko Ranton, and there there was some powerhouse guys on these teams, but The US and Canada were just so overpowering. But shout out to Finland and Sweden who definitely had a really great tournament put together, but Yeah. Obviously, they couldn't pull through.
Jacob:Yeah. Obviously. But it showed how competitive it was because going in before the game where USA played, was they played Sweden or Finland this week?
Madi:They played Sweden on Monday, and they lost two one.
Jacob:Yep. So so they obviously had two o or two one loss against Sweden hurt. But, I mean, before that game, Canada, Finland, and Sweden were all tied in points with two. So, obviously, it there was a testament to how competitive it was even though some teams had strengths in other areas compared to weaknesses and other with Canada's goaltending, for an example. I mean, obviously, everybody kinda came to play.
Jacob:No one took it lightly. It was competitive the whole time. Obviously, USA was at the top of those standings. Big win over Canada will do that, but, like, everybody came out to play. And it's just been so much fun.
Jacob:I think, like I was saying before, the average hockey fan, the average sports fan can really appreciate just the product that we're seeing on the ice right here, with this tournament and the fact that it was competitive and a good idea to say, like, it's it's safe to say this will continue in future years. So
Madi:Yeah.
Jacob:Absolute props to D'Angel.
Madi:And bringing back Freebird as the goal song for USN was the best thing that they could have possibly done. That was the greatest idea USA hockey has had because they had that as their goal song at the World Juniors, and then they bring it back for a tournament like this. You can't top Freebird. That's just amazing. It's a
Jacob:crowd going for sure.
Madi:It really does.
Jacob:Yeah. I know. That was so it's just the it's the stuff that comes together like that. Mhmm.
Madi:Choosing
Jacob:a song like that makes you come together and just feel so patriotic. Yeah. Like, it makes you appreciate being a US citizen. Yeah. Absolutely unreal scenes for that tournament.
Jacob:But
Madi:I've listened to Freebird one too many times this past week.
Jacob:For good reason. Uh-huh. For good reason. No. I know reasons.
Jacob:Yeah. But yeah. I mean, that's pretty much gonna wrap it up here. Obviously, very exciting topics to talk about this week. Stay tuned for that championship game tomorrow because I can tell you that me and Maddie will both be watching.
Jacob:It'll be absolutely unreal, and we may have to shout it out again next week. So stay tuned for that. But, thanks again, Maddie, and for listening in for another great segment of Sports Roundtable, and we will see you guys same time next week.