I know a number of people who've been laid off at some point during the past couple years, including myself for a short stretch in 2007.

When something like that happens, you do your best to make due with what you have. If you have a family, everyone in the family does their best to step on and take on a bigger role. That works out for a while at times, but other times, when bills start to pile up, things become too much to bear and certain arrangements have to be made or things have to be done to make ends meet.

I don't like comparing things like that to sports, but it makes sense when you think about this year's Michigan State basketball team. At various points this season, a number of different things have happened (injuries, benchings, players being kicked out of practice, guys not fulfilling academic responsibilities), yet the team is still two games away from its sixth Final Four appearance in 12 years.

The Spartans look to have the look of a real team now - one where everyone looks out for everyone else and where certain guys (Raymar Morgan, Draymond Green and Durrell Summers) have began to grasp "The Moment" and have stepped up in the absence of others.

The squad looks like it could continue its (somewhat) improbable run. But things are beginning to pile up on the Spartans. Their best player (Jr. G Kalin Lucas) is out for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. MSU's best perimeter defender (Jr. G Chris Allen) has been hobbled by a foot that, according to reports, resembles something out of a cartoon - throbbing and purple. Starting power forward Delvon Roe has been playing on a torn meniscus for who knows how long.

Piled on top of that is that MSU is set to face the Team of the Tournament: Northern Iowa. Since knocking off the prohibitive favorite - Kansas - every talking head, radio show host and newspaper columnist has sang the praises of the Panthers. With good reason. The team has good spot-up shooters, plays good defense and can rotate in three players, all seniors, who are 6'8" or taller. Their starting center, Jordan Eglseder, is 7-feet tall and 280 pounds. MSU's big man, Derrick Nix, who has come to life since the tournament began, can rival Eglseder physically, but not in the skill department.

The Spartans should be able to outrebound the Panthers and the team still has the ultimate X-factor in head coach Tom Izzo - the best tournament coach of the last 15 years. MSU can win, but it'll have to play the full 40 minutes - something it hasn't been able to do so far this tournament.

If MSU is able to run on offense, and if players continue to live in The Moment, MSU could potentially, based on how crazy this tournament has been, win the whole thing.

But too many things have piled up. And I have to believe NIU fans will make the 4 hour drive to St. Louis to cheer on their Panthers. Sure, MSU will have fans in the stands, too, but, with a game being played prior to the start of ours, I have to think the Ohio State and Tennessee fans will lean toward the "underdog."

With all that said...

Children of the Corn - 67
300 -63

Excuse me while I go make myself a Tylenol PM sandwich.