Checking in from Reliant Stadium where Michigan State, Memphis, Texas and Stanford met with the media today in advance of Friday's South Regional semifinals. Outside it's 80 degrees and sunny, and inside it's starting to feel like March.

You'll read all about it in tomorrow's paper, hopefully, but Memphis coach John Calipari and his team played the disrespect card more times than I can count today. For a No. 1 seed with a 35-1 record, it sounded a little odd, though I must admit there are plenty of people picking MSU to win. A sampling:

"The greatest thing is (we) are experienced, (we) are hungry, but we are not supposed to win," Calipari said. "All of the pundits, we are losing this game and here is why. Bam, bam, bam."

And, "We are just going to play. Like I said, I believe in my team and I trust my team. I have a bunch of veterans and young players that I have faith in. And we're not supposed to win. I don't know if we are one of the better teams, but I think we are pretty good."

To its credit, MSU seemed pretty loose and relaxed, too, but a little more business-like in its approach. The Spartans had a morning shootaround and an open practice this afternoon, and were scheduled to walk-through Thursday night. They'll be back at Reliant for another shootaround Friday afternoon.

You'll have to wait until tomorrow for my pick — I've locked it in for the paper and the pre-game show — but I expect a very competitive game. Defensively, Memphis doesn't get the credit it deserves, but the Tigers should cause MSU plenty of problems with their athleticism on the perimeter. A key for MSU will be getting Drew Neitzel going from the outside — he struggled against a Temple team with similar length in the first round — and limiting Memphis' deadly dribble penetration.