The Front Row

Izzo seems that he has never placed any importance on the BiG tournament.

Each of the years that sparti went to the final four they lost early in the tournament.

This year seems different for Izzo. He stated that the last lost to the Bucks was one of the worst in his career.

I think this is personal for him:

win and it softens the blow of loosing at home on senior day

softens the blow of losing the outright championship-which this is kind of a tie breaker

possibly gets a #1 seed in the tourney which statistically increases the chances of a final 4

Payne plays his best against the Bucks--a little motivation for him

makes the loss of their freshman star a little less bitter

all those reasons and more but I think the main one is that Izzo is competitive and the last loss was on their own floor with much at steak and his team did not answer the bell---

he really wants this one and it will be a good game if the Bucks bring their A game

Go Buckeyes!

O-H......