F28335 SPI RXBuffer Read issue

Hello,

I'm using the SPI module of the F28335 to interface with a WIZ820io W5200 ethernet device. I can set up the WizNet just fine, but my problem arises when I want to read/write packets. I am unable to read incoming packets consistently and I am wondering if the issue has to do with how I am pulling the data from the SPI RXBuffer.

I have it set up for an 8 bit word length. Shown below is my SPI init function and my SPI read/write function. 

void spi_fifo_init(){
	//Initialize SPI FIFO registers
	SpiaRegs.SPIFFTX.all = 0xE040;	//Transmit registers
	SpiaRegs.SPIFFRX.all = 0x204f;	//Read registers
	SpiaRegs.SPIFFCT.all = 0x00;	// Transmit delay = no delay

	SpiaRegs.SPICCR.all =0x0047;	             // Reset on, rising edge, 16-bit char bits
	SpiaRegs.SPICTL.all =0x0006;    		    	// Enable master mode, normal phase,
                                                 // enable talk, and SPI int disabled.
	//SpiaRegs.SPIBRR =0x004A;					 // Baud rate = LSPCLK/(4)
	SpiaRegs.SPIBRR =0x00f0;
	SpiaRegs.SPICCR.all =0x00c7;		         // Relinquish SPI from Reset, 8 bit
        SpiaRegs.SPIPRI.bit.FREE = 1;                // Set so breakpoints don't disturb xmission

}




Uint8 spi_Write(Uint8 msg){
	// loads buffer and sends it out
	Uint16 Tdata = (0xFF00)&(msg<<8);
        SpiaRegs.SPITXBUF = Tdata;
  	while(SpiaRegs.SPIFFRX.bit.RXFFST!=1) { }
	
  	
	Uint8 rdata = (0xFF & (SpiaRegs.SPIRXBUF));
	return rdata;
	

}