2 team despite having a poor shooting game

Inthe words of one of the Engaging Eights top executives: Give people a place tomake a difference, and its amazing what they can get done." The newly released book, Closing the Engagement Gap, is available online and atmajor bookstores for a suggested price of $25.95. Additional information aboutClosing the Engagement Gap is available at http:// To join ongoing discussion about topicsfrom the book, please visit the Towers Perrin blog the AuthorsJulie Gebauer leads Towers Perrins global Workforce Effectiveness practice andthe global Towers Perrin-ISR research practice. She is a member of the firmsHuman Capital Group (HCG) Operations Council, the leadership body for the HCGbusiness segment. She consults on a broad range of HR issues, includingworkforce analytics, HR strategy, talent management and total rewards Ms.Gebauer received a B.S in mathematics from the University of Nebraska. She isan Enrolled Actuary and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.

She was inductedinto the YWCAs Academy of Women Achievers in 1998. Don Lowman is Managing Director of Strategic Growth for HR Services and islocated in the Stamford, Connecticut office. He is a member of the FirmsExecutive Council and Board of Directors. In addition to his leadership role, heconsults with large multinational companies in the areas of executivecompensation, total rewards strategy and performance management Mr Lowmanreceived a B.A in English from Randolph-Macon College and an M.B.A in Financefrom the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Thefirm provides innovative solutions in the areas of human capital strategy,program design and management, and in the areas of risk and capital management,insurance and reinsurance intermediary services, and actuarial consulting.Towers Perrin has offices and alliance partners in the United States, Canada,Europe, Asia, Latin America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Moreinformation is available at Towers PerrinJoe Conway, Copyright Business Wire 2009. You hear it every year with this team. It's starting again after last night's Sparty letdown in the Lone Star state. Michigan columnists are writing off last night's 79-68 loss to Texas as a game that was only about "style points.""Style points" is a common belief in December that losses to tough, ranked teams don't matter as long as a team isn't accused of loading up on patsies. In other words, it doesn't matter if a team loses tough games in December; it only matters if they win.The truth is, those losses mean just as much.A few losses in December never stop talk radio hosts and fans from drinking the green Kool-Aid, believing State will take care of business in the Big 10, and easily get back to the Final Four.Without taking anything away from Tom Izzo and the Spartans, who always are ready to play when it counts, these losses are a good measure of where they stack up when that time comes.Don't take this the wrong way; MSU can come away encouraged that they were competitive against the No. 2 team, despite having a poor shooting game. They can get better over the course of the season and keep it closer the next time around.

They were able to hang close with an oversized Texas team and a raucous crowd on the road.A lot can change between the Texas-Michigan State game last night and a potential rematch in three months. One team could get physically and emotionally drained from simply playing tough conference games. It was a rematch of a game in December where MSU was overwhelmed by UNC. Not a whole lot changed from the first time to the second time Not even the venue. On the flip side, Sparty beat a Kansas team pretty soundly in the regular season. It was a lot closer in the tournament, but they were able to handle them again.In 2006, a No 1 ranked Florida team played a No. 3 Ohio State team before Christmas. As you remember, the same matchup from the National Championship game.