Dear Minnesota,

On behalf of the entire state of Michigan, from the bottom of our frozen little hearts to your frozen little lakes, we can’t thank you enough.

We were all cheering for you on Tuesday night, and we celebrated right along with your crazy, fun-lovin', court-stormin' students when your Golden Gophers upset No.11 Purdue, 73-69.

Because you have turned the regular-season ending Michigan-Michigan State showdown Saturday night into a Big Ten championship battle.

At least for a share of one.

MSU fans love you, my dear old friends in Minnesota, because the Spartans can now clinch at least a share of their second-straight regular season Big Ten title on Saturday night, if they beat Michigan.

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And Michigan fans love you, well, for the same reason. Now, if the Wolverines beat the Spartans, and avenge the 77-70 loss in Ann Arbor, they will clinch at least a share of their first regular season conference title since 2014.

And ESPN loves you, for exactly the same reason.

The Michigan-MSU 8 p.m. game has turned into a prime-time, must-see battle that will be played on ESPN, giving us what we have been dreaming about all season.

One game. For all the marbles — or, eh, at least half of them.

So again, Minnesota, thank you so much.

This is great for MSU, great for U-M, great for all of us.

For one magical night, you did the unthinkable — you united the Spartans and Wolverines, as we rooted for your Gophers. And you have turned the Big Ten in one giant, delightful, 15-4 mess.

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You made our hearts fill with joy — you cheered and we cheered back — as your students stormed the court. What a cool scene, as coach Richard Pitino called for his players on senior night.

So thank you so much, Minnesota.

And here's a quick note to Northwestern: I think I can speak for the entire state of Michigan, both the Spartans and Wolverines, when I say: Go Wildcats! You would make this so perfect, if you would knock off Purdue on Saturday afternoon. That would give the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game the outright title.

But alas, we don’t want to be greedy.

A game for a share of a title would be just fine, considering the state of things around here in Michigan. For the most part, our sports teams are just like our roads — they suck. It's been nothing but one suspension-bustin' pothole after another.

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So thank you, Minnesota. You have given us something the Lions can’t do. Nor the Red Wings. Nor the Pistons. Nor the Tigers.

You have given us a chance to root for a championship again.

At least a slice of one.

Oh, and one other thing Minnesota. Thank you so much for taking P.J. Fleck off our hands.

We’ll leave it at that.

Sincerely,

The entire freakin’ state of Michigan

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel/.