The Gospel Coalition

Sunday afternoon emails between me and C.J.:

ME 4:36 – Game’s not over yet.

CJ 4:38 – Md does not give up but it would be a complete collapse if your boys lose and Izzo won’t let that happen.

CJ 4:44 – Oh my!

ME 4:44 – I am feeling ill.

CJ 4:47 – My entire family is present and screaming! I already have my post done that I was going to send you.

ME 4:49 – Are you kidding me!

CJ 4:50 – Congratulations my friend! We are heart broken.

CJ 4:54 – We are depressed. Post is coming.

Here’s why C.J. is depressed.

As per our friendly wager, C.J. has written a few paragraphs on the game.

“There is something wrong when Gary Williams and Tom Izzo have a loser-go-home game this early in the NCAA tournament. One team’s followers will be crushed when Sunday afternoon’s game is over. Everyone in college basketball will be worse off.” Mike Wise, Washington Post

Well, as a Maryland fan I am among the “crushed.”

But I am happy for you my friend. As you know, I am a fan of your coach.

Even though I don’t think Michigan State is unusually talented this year, Tom Izzo is an elite coach who gets the best out of his players.  It was a brilliant move on his part not to call time out after Vasquez scored. They would have lost if he did.

But you won and we lost. Huge congratulations to you and your boys! And it doesn’t appear to be a difficult path to the Final Four for MSU now that Kansas has lost. I hope you go deep into the tournament this year.

As for me, I will be rooting against Duke (and Kentucky) in what is—without a doubt—the best sporting event of them all. Every March is wonderful, predictable madness.

So my friend, I look forward to the privilege of preaching once again to your wonderful church and spending time hanging with you and learning from you. Same schedule as last time buddy.

Our folks were all decked out in green at our evening service last night. A basketball games matters almost nothing in the grand scheme of things, but as a bit of common grace it’s pretty fun. Plus, we’re excited to have C.J. back in Michigan.

It may be of interest to note the conference representation in the Sweet Sixteen. The ACC has as many teams (1) as the Pac-10, WCC, Atlantic Ten, Missouri Valley Conference, Horizon League, and Ivy League. The Big East, SEC, and Big 12 have two teams each. The leader in Sweet Sixteen entries? The Big Ten with three.

Congrats to the Spartans.

Thanks to C.J. for being such a good sport.

Bring on Justin Taylor’s Northern Iowa Panthers. This time we have Pizza Hut on the line.