EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's winning streak at home against nonconference teams was in jeopardy.
The second-ranked Spartans -- and their fans -- refused to let it end against Gonzaga.
Durrell Summers hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with a few minutes left, made two at the line in the final seconds and finished with 21 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to help Michigan State rally for a 75-71 win over the Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
"It was the kind of game we needed, especially this early in the year," Summers said.
The Spartans (2-0) won their 41st straight game at home against a nonconference team, extending a streak that started after a loss to Duke on Dec. 3, 2003.
"There's no question the crowd won that game for us," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "If you were down there, you could hear it."
Robert Sacre matched a career high with 17 points for the Bulldogs (1-1) despite playing just 19 minutes.
"He was really making a difference in there, then his minutes got limited because of the fouls," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "That hurt us."
Gonzaga freshman Elias Harris scored 17, Matt Bouldin had 15 points and Steven Gray added 13.
Kalin Lucas made a layup with 39 seconds left to give Michigan State a three-point lead and finished with 19 points.
Raymar Morgan scored 16 off the bench despite playing on a sprained left ankle and injuring his right ankle in the first half.
"I am really proud of Ray," Izzo said.
Michigan State scored first, then trailed Gonzaga for much of the game.
The Bulldogs led by 13 midway through the first half and were ahead 35-30 at halftime.
They built another double-digit lead early in the second half, but were hurt by the 7-foot Sacre getting called for a third foul and 7-5 reserve Will Foster getting a fourth foul shortly after halftime.
Michigan State freshman Derrick Nix made a putback with 11:52 left in the game to put the home team ahead for the first time since the opening minute.
The Bulldogs, though, refused to wilt in the raucous Breslin Center despite having one of their youngest teams since becoming one of the nation's stronger programs.
"It's a terrific college basketball atmosphere," Few said. "Before Thanksgiving, it felt like a game that would clinch a championship game in a league with the energy.
"We played here [in 1997] when I was an assistant with Dan [Monson] and this place has really grown."
Sacre made a shot midway through the second half to put Gonzaga ahead by seven and a fadeaway with 4:42 to go for a 65-61 lead.
The Spartans made enough shots and stops in the final minutes in a game that will get them ready to play Florida, North Carolina and Texas before the Big Ten season.
"It's a big win for us because we didn't play real well," Izzo said. "Gonzaga took it to us for at least 30 minutes. I have a lot of respect for Mark and their program.
"They punched us in the mouth, picked us off the ground and punched us again early -- and I thought we were ready to play," Izzo added.
Gonzaga, hoping to reload instead of rebuild, also faces a tough schedule with games against Wake Forest, Arizona or Wisconsin, Duke, Oklahoma and Illinois before starting West Coast Conference play.
Few said he had mixed emotions about Tuesday's game because the Bulldogs had a shot at pulling off an upset -- which would've perhaps been one of the school's biggest wins in the regular season -- but he went home proud.
"There's a lot of positives we can take out of this, certainly how we competed," Few said.
I'm sure Morgan probably won't play, but if you can guess the starting lineup, let me know.
Sherman, Roe, Summers, Allen, Lucas.
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
(I actually didn't have internet access between Friday night and today).
1). Allen with his second straight outstanding game, with today being a career best. I've never wanted someone to pad their stats as much as I do with Allen. I just feel like his entire offensive production is based on his confidence level. Miss a few shots, and he starts dribbling away from open shots, turning the ball over, etc. Make a few, and he starts shooting deep 3's without hesitation. The CC was mentioning that if Allen can become a factor, MSU is unbeatable. For all intents and purposes, I think he's pretty much right.
2). It was a smaller Valpo lineup, but you can't argue with a 17 rebound game. Hopefully Roe is starting to get healthy.
3). I said this after the Gonzaga game, and I felt it was true again today: Raymar Morgan was the best player on the court today. He's playing with renewed confidence, and just looks like a man-child out there. We'll see if it holds up, but as long as he stays healthy, I think it will. Dude was 20-10 two years ago, and a double double machine early in big ten play last year. The issue is just injuries....but we need him.
Next two games are on HDNet (like, wtf?) and I don't know who gets that channel. So if someone finds a place to watch online, please let me know!
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Long before Jud Heathcote left Michigan State in 1995, he made sure veteran assistant Tom Izzo was hired as his successor.
Izzo and Heathcote now are tied atop the Michigan State record book with 340 victories after the No. 2 Spartans' 90-60 win over Valparaiso on Sunday.
It'll give the old friends something to discuss Sunday night, when Heathcote was to be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City.
Quote:
Fast Facts
• Chris Allen led Michigan State with a career-high 22 points as the Spartans won their 43rd straight non-conference game at home (second-longest active streak) and advanced to the semifinals of the Legends Classic.
• Coach Tom Izzo got his 340th win at Michigan State, tying Jud Heathcote for the most in school history.
• Michigan State's Delvon Roe got his second straight double-double with 10 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
• Valparaiso has now lost 28 straight games vs AP Top 25 teams and 14 straight road games.
-- ESPN Stats & Information
Izzo was catching a plane and headed for the ceremonies shortly after his Spartans (4-0) beat the Crusaders (1-3).
"I think it'll make Jud feel good that his hand-picked successor is the one that at least tied his record," Izzo said. "It's kind of ironic on the day he goes into the Hall that I tie his record. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be."
Chris Allen scored 22 points to lead Michigan State and Kalin Lucas added 15.
Brandon Wood had 24 points for Valparaiso.
The game was a regional matchup in the Legends Classic. The Spartans head to Atlantic City, N.J., for a game Friday against Florida in the tournament semifinals.
Valparaiso coach Homer Drew said it was the Crusaders' misfortune to run into the Spartans after Izzo was angry at his team for what he considered a lackluster effort in a victory over Toledo earlier this week.
"You just didn't want to be this team on this given day playing Michigan State University," Drew said. "It was kind of like a V-8 playing a V-4. Their engine ran faster and quicker than we did."
The Spartans won their 43rd straight home game against nonconference opponents, extending a streak that started after a loss to Duke on Dec. 3, 2003.
Izzo, in his 15th season at Michigan State, has a 340-137 record highlighted by the 2000 national championship. He was an assistant to Heathcote before taking over the program.
Izzo's teams are 38-0 at home in November.
Michigan State outran and outjumped a swarming Valparaiso zone during a 20-4 first-half run that gave the Spartans at 25-9 lead.
"We made sure we got off to a great start," Lucas said.
The Spartans led by as many as 24 points in the first half and were ahead 46-28 at the break. Allen had 11 points in the first half.
Valparaiso got within 15 points early in the second half, but never seriously threatened Michigan State.
Valparaiso hasn't shied away from tough competition, having lost a week ago at No. 6 North Carolina, 88-77.
Cory Johnson scored 16 points for the Crusaders, who shot 33 percent from the floor.
Delvon Roe had 10 points and 17 rebounds for Michigan State.
Raymar Morgan scored nine points for the Spartans after missing the Toledo game because of ankle and foot injuries.
Was at the game versus Valpo, it was nice to see the level of exectuion. Lucious played a terrific floor game, Allen shot well and Roe played very hard. I am interested to see if Roe can maintain his aggressiveness and success against Floirda friday night.
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
Last edited by sportz4life; 11-22-2009 at 06:51 PM.
Now, in my lifetime as a Spartan, Eric Snow was one of the worst free throw shooters I'd ever seen...Somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% as a freshman at MSU, as I recall. Now I only point this out to take note of Derrick Nix' early season struggles from the "Charity Stripe". Where through 4 games, Nix is shooting 6. That's right 6 percent. Obviously some strides need to be made there, and sample size is somewhat of a caution at this point - but with his rebounding ability and body type, the man's gonna get contact. A lot of contact in all likelihood, and it would be nice if we'd be able to have him on the court in certain match-ups late in close games.
__________________
I like to Rock and Roll all night, and part of every day.
Now, in my lifetime as a Spartan, Eric Snow was one of the worst free throw shooters I'd ever seen...Somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% as a freshman at MSU, as I recall. Now I only point this out to take note of Derrick Nix' early season struggles from the "Charity Stripe". Where through 4 games, Nix is shooting 6. That's right 6 percent. Obviously some strides need to be made there, and sample size is somewhat of a caution at this point - but with his rebounding ability and body type, the man's gonna get contact. A lot of contact in all likelihood, and it would be nice if we'd be able to have him on the court in certain match-ups late in close games.
Yeah, that has to get better. As does Roe's FT shooting, who'll be seeing more time from the line. Last year, he was 50%, and doesn't seem to be much improvement yet this year.
Athleticly, this is one of Izzo's most gifted teams. Lot of fun to watch them run vs. Valpo.
__________________
Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983
In case we needed any more reason to enjoy MSU basketball...check out next year's Maui invitational:
Quote:
MAUI, Hawaii, Nov. 19, 2008 – The EA SPORTS Maui Invitational today announced the eight-team field that will battle at Maui's famed Lahaina Civic Center during Thanksgiving Week in 2010. Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, Wichita State and host Chaminade University of Honolulu are the scheduled teams for the 27th edition of the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament.
Loaded.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
Last edited by SpartanValor; 11-24-2009 at 07:03 PM.
Florida completely bent the Seminoles over their knee and made them their own the other night.........so maybe it will be a little more challenging than Valpo on Friday night.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
EAST LANSING - Since the start of the 1976-77 season, the Michigan State men's basketball program has 680 victories.
Exactly 340 of them belong to Jud Heathcote, and 340 belong to Tom Izzo. But in different ways, they both had a hand in most of them.
Izzo was by Heathcote's side from 1983 to 1995, steadily gaining responsibility until he was ready to assume command of the program.
Heathcote is the man who chose, endorsed and pushed for Izzo when others wanted to look elsewhere. And Heathcote, 82 and living in Spokane, Wash., still gets to every NCAA Tournament game and offers his assistance.
Izzo can pass Heathcote to become MSU's all-time wins leader on Friday, if the No. 2 Spartans (4-0) can beat Florida in the semifinals of the Legends Classic at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
If not Friday, it'll happen soon enough. And Heathcote, asked how he would react, gave a perfectly Heathcotian response.
"I'm going to go out and kill myself," he joked.
Pause. Chuckle.
"No, no, I'm thrilled for him, I'm thrilled for Tom and I'm proud of him," Heathcote continued. "And I'm proud of the continuity the program has had. Every program needs continuity and we've had it at Michigan State. I want to be the first in line to congratulate Tom."
He was the first one to see in Izzo the traits that have turned MSU into one of college basketball's top programs.
And Izzo was at the front of the line to congratulate Heathcote on Sunday night in Kansas City, Mo., at Heathcote's NCAA Hall of Fame induction ceremony - a few hours after Izzo tied Heathcote with 340 MSU wins.
That milestone was not discussed.
"It is uncomfortable a little bit," Izzo said, "and that's probably why I won't talk to him about it at all."
Heathcote and Izzo have been close for going on three decades, but it has always been a lot more mentor-protégé than buddy-buddy.
That started to change slightly for Izzo in the spring of 2008. Heathcote had an infected heart valve, his heart was operating at 15 percent efficiency, and he had to have open-heart surgeries in April and June of that year.
It took a few months of healing before those close to Heathcote could safely exhale.
"I still have trouble thinking Jud's my friend, and I don't mean that in a bad way," Izzo said. "When I thought of losing him, that helped move it more toward friendship."
Basement days
Izzo spent about an hour Monday reliving some of his favorite Heathcote stories with reporters.
"God, those are good memories," he said, "when I think back on how crazy it was."
Heathcote turned down Izzo for a job in 1982, thanks in part to the fact that Izzo had his jaw wired shut from a softball injury and Heathcote couldn't understand him.
Izzo, then an assistant at alma mater Northern Michigan, tried again in 1983. Heathcote could only offer him a part-time, $7,000-a-year position.
"I knew who he was, I knew he had a work ethic and I knew how bad he wanted it. So I hired him," Heathcote said. "Every year, he grew in the job."
Strapped for cash, Izzo sold his car, received $10 a month from his sister, lived in various cramped quarters - including the basement of an apartment rented by Mark Hollis, then a student manager for the basketball team, now MSU's athletic director.
Izzo looked for ways to move up. He put together an academic chart, detailing each player's daily class load so the staff could keep track of attendance.
He got into video scouting. MSU got a satellite dish and one of those fancy VCRs, and the Spartans would record games of upcoming opponents.
One day, the coaching staff sat down to watch a game taped the night before. But the custodial staff had apparently changed the satellite coordinates - and the tape suddenly switched from basketball to an adult film.
"I think Jud liked me more then," Izzo joked. "He thought I had potential."
Izzo left to become head assistant at Tulsa in May of 1986. But in June, Mike Deane left MSU to become head coach at Siena, and Heathcote asked Izzo to come back and be his top aide.
He couldn't resist. In the years to come, Izzo became the staff's ace recruiter - bringing in Steve Smith, Matt Steigenga and Mark Montgomery, among others - and a viable head coaching candidate.
"After about the seventh or eighth year," Heathcote said, "I knew he was the one who should get the job after I left."
Even then, having earned Heathcote's respect, Izzo wanted more.
"I didn't fear him at the end, but I wasn't comfortable," Izzo said. "I always wanted to please him. I kept saying, 'Is it possible?' "
Close from afar
Heathcote fought for it, Izzo got the job, and after two seasons of steady building, the Spartans started off on a dozen-years-and-counting ascent.
Izzo admittedly wanted more input from Heathcote in the early years, but Heathcote did not want to hover.
Still, when it's NCAA time, Heathcote is there. In the meetings. In the film room. Dispensing advice and barbs with equal aplomb.
"Jud's still rumbling and Tom's still taking orders when he's around," Hollis said.
"For Monty and I, we just kind of laugh because he hasn't changed a bit," said Dwayne Stephens, who played with Montgomery under Heathcote and now coaches with him under Izzo. "He'll shake your hand and then he rips you the whole time. Nothing's changed. He ripped me as a player and now he's ripping me as a coach."
Izzo likes Heathcote to interact with the current players as well. He knows their names, knows their games, gives tips from time to time.
"Tom always introduces me and tells the players to come up and introduce themselves," Heathcote said. "They all come around and say they're glad to see me and lie a little bit."
They genuinely loved it during last season's tournament run, when Heathcote joined them for a pre-game meal and delivered a zinger at Izzo's expense.
"He kind of slid one in," MSU junior guard Durrell Summers said. "We were all laughing."
As proud as Heathcote is of Izzo's achievements, he may get the most satisfaction from the fact that Izzo will be the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches for the 2010-11 season.
Heathcote was president in 1988-89 and always heavily involved in the organization.
"I can honestly say," Izzo said, "I'll never catch him for what he's done for the game."
Izzo may never befriend him, or please him, or thank him to the extent he'd like, either.
It is said, however, that imitation is the highest form of flattery.
"As you watch Tom," Hollis said, "he's starting to walk a little more like Jud and talk a little more like Jud."
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
Hurt missing the front end of that 1 and 1 before the half. Giving up way too many points, and a lot of easy ones inside. If we ever match up with Cole Aldrich, thats gonna be scary.
TOs are an issue, and while I know the quick strike offense leads to that, there were a lot of really bad passes and mistakes too.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
Too many mistakes and missed FTs. Hopefully they learn something from this one. I have a strange confidence in every game that they're going to win, and I feel like they're a much better team than this time last year, but it wasn't enough tonight. Another cupcake tomorrow, get ready for UNC on Tuesday.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
Tough to beat good teams when you turn the ball over 22 times..Morgan with another disappearing act..why should I be shocked by this..I appreciate every solid Morgan performance because they are so few and far between, it's like finding money.
Lastly and I say this about once a year..Donovan outcoached Izzo, the press, when he turned it up and how he switched up defenses and personnel..excellent job, thats usually a huge advantage for MSU, not tonight.
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
Last edited by sportz4life; 11-27-2009 at 11:31 PM.
To be completely frank...I'm not too worried. I'm kind of annoyed that we lost to a team that I'd submit is clearly not as talented as our own...But we've seen this tape before. MSU comes out against an inferior opponent, turns the ball over (including numerous just brutal mistakes in the first half - which from a possession standpoint, was damn near as bad as a team can treasure the rock) repeatedly, and lays the proverbial egg.
Izzo has a clear track record of improving this facet of his team's performance, and until I have reason to believe something else will happen, and I definitely don't with this roster (a number of quality ball-handlers), I'm still believing that a big March/April run is in the cards.
__________________
I like to Rock and Roll all night, and part of every day.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Tom Izzo's dress shirt was soaked, a towel draped over his shoulder.
No, Michigan State's head coach didn't have to sweat out a tight win.
Izzo was doused with water by the jubilant Spartans after setting the school record for victories with 341 in the No. 2 Spartans' 106-68 win over Massachusetts on Saturday night in the Legends Classic.
"I had a little bath," a smiling Izzo said.
He didn't have time to duck when the Spartans snuck behind him in the locker room with buckets of water. The Spartans also gave their coach a plaque that read "341 leaves a footprint in the sand."
Water, sand -- perhaps it was fitting Izzo earned this milestone victory at the Jersey shore.
"I guess in some ways I'm happy that they appreciate even I want to leave some footprint here somewhere," Izzo said. "Maybe that's what meant as much as anything. I think they were genuinely excited about it and I hope they feel a part of it."
Izzo set the record the same week mentor and predecessor Jud Heathcote was inducted into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame. For years, it was Izzo who sat by Heathcote's side as an assistant and associate head coach. When Heathcote retired, Izzo was his hand-picked successor.
Izzo had already matched him with one national championship apiece. He now stands alone atop the Spartans' win list with a 341-138 record in his 15th season.
"Jud had been so instrumental on my behalf and got me the job, that I'll just look at it as we have 681 wins between us," Izzo said. "We'll count that as a record."
Izzo made the hundreds of green-clad fans who made the trip wait a day for history after the Spartans (5-1) were upset by Florida 77-74 on Friday night. They returned for a glimpse of the record-setter in the consolation game of the tournament, where Florida played Rutgers in the championship game.
Like so many of Michigan State's games against weak nonconference teams, this outcome was never in doubt. The Spartans used a 30-3 run in the first half to turn this slice of school history into a lopsided one.
Chris Allen led the Spartans with 18 points. Raymar Morgan scored 17 points, Kalin Lucas had 16 and Korie Lucious 13. The Spartans made 14 of 22 3s, led by four each from Lucas and Allen.
They were all proud to be a part of Izzo's big day.
"Just like he's going to be remembered forever, we're going to remembered forever for the team that gave him that 341," Allen said.
Spartan fans held printed "341" cards and chanted Izzo's name in the waning moments, and stood and applauded him once the final horn sounded. Izzo has led the Spartans to five Final Fours since 1999 and were blown out in the national title game last season to North Carolina.
Izzo, Lucas and the Spartans are motivated to get there again and win the program's third national title. Heathcote won the championship with Magic Johnson in 1979, and Izzo won his title in 2000.
The Spartans were stunned by the Gators a night earlier in large part because they missed eight of 10 3-point attempts. The Minutemen (2-4) had a flicker of success early with an 8-2 lead, then watched it evaporate into a 32-11 hole once the Spartans regained their touch.
Lucas hit a pair of 3s that tied the score, Lucious and Morgan connected during the run, and even when they went inside the arc, the Spartans still got three. Delvon Roe made the most of a shaky pass and errant landing when he was fouled on a layup and converted the three-point play for a 32-11 lead.
Lucious hit three 3s in the first half, and the Spartans went 8 for 15 on 3s to take a 55-38 lead into the break.
Anthony Gurley scored 24 points and Ricky Harris had 15 for UMass.
"When we scored, they did as good a job as I've seen in a long time getting the ball to the basket and really pushing it down their throats," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said.
Izzo glumly downplayed the coaching milestone when the Gators won on Friday. He was more appreciative of the mark the night he tied Heathcote. Izzo will have little time to savor the win: Michigan State has a national championship rematch Tuesday against North Carolina.
"That's all we think about right now is getting back out," Allen said. "It's revenge time."
UCLA is now 2-4 after losing to Long Beach State. I think that gives them an 8th place finish in their tourney.
I point this out as yet another reason to be grateful for Izzo. Howland took UCLA to three straight final fours, like Izzo, but now has completely fallen off the face of college basketball. Meanwhile, Izzo has yet to miss the NCAA tourney since his streak began, including a FF appearance every four years. I know MSU fans shake their head when we lose to a team we shouldn't in November, but come March, you know he's going to have us deep in the tourney.
And Nevada lost....but it was close (7). Hopefully we can come out strong on Tuesday night.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
UNC sees MSU, and they don't miss a shot. They almost lose to freaking Nevada, then 48 hours later, look like the showtime lakers. It blows my mind. I'm convinced, they just have our number.
It would also be nice to have half the freshmen UNC has (yeah I know, I said this last year too). But seriously, compare Nix and Sherman to the freshmen UNC is throwing out there. Its comical.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
The Spartans are 53-13 when Raymar Morgan scores over 10 pts
They are only 23-15 in games when he scores less than 10
amazing stat of the night in those 38 gam,es 38 times we played a big time opponenet.
Raymar Morgan is the most overated/overhyped player in MSU history..he isn't athletic, has no jumper and zero agility or foot speed. How many times does he get packed against big time opponenet. Name me a game against a top ranked team when he showed up??
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
UNC sees MSU, and they don't miss a shot. They almost lose to freaking Nevada, then 48 hours later, look like the showtime lakers. It blows my mind. I'm convinced, they just have our number.
It would also be nice to have half the freshmen UNC has (yeah I know, I said this last year too). But seriously, compare Nix and Sherman to the freshmen UNC is throwing out there. Its comical.
I think a lot of it is MSU doesnt have the big men to match up with UNC. They have so many points in the paint.
__________________
2010 AAT Austin Wood
2009 ARW Valtteri Filppula -44 games 8 goals 21 assists (3 goals 0 assists for Finland)
2009 AAP Charlie Villanueva 12 PPG 4.8 RPG
amazing stat of the night in those 38 gam,es 38 times we played a big time opponenet.
Raymar Morgan is the most overated/overhyped player in MSU history..he isn't athletic, has no jumper and zero agility or foot speed. How many times does he get packed against big time opponenet. Name me a game against a top ranked team when he showed up??
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
How in the hell could anyone fault Raymar Morgan for what was happening, or his performance tonight??? What did you want to see from him Sportz??? Organ donation?!?!
Look, MSU's post defense isn't where we need it to be right now. Hard to argue that. We also just happened to probably take UNC's best shot (certainly in the first half)...Call me crazy, but I'm a big MSU believer this year. Give Tom Izzo another month whipping Garrick Sherman (and Derrick Nix) into shape...Schooling them on appropriate switch technique, awareness and positioning - where both are seriously lacking, but Nix isn't even in the right zip code defensively.
I mean maybe it's just blind faith and an MSU bias, but you match those two teams back up on a neutral court in mid-January, and I'm gonna take the Spartans. In fact, at this point I'm leaning toward taking the Spartans against damn near every team in that scenario. The pieces are here folks. Credit to MSU for staying in this thing to the end, but if we get perimeter performances from: Allen, Lucas, Lucious, Summers etc...We'll struggle against quality opponents. The good thing is that I can't forsee too many nights goin' by where all those guys just aren't hitting - and there were a lot of good looks too.
My only point of contention or disappointment...Is the body language that I often see from Morgan and Allen. Other players feed off that stuff in a negative way. Allen's confidence is just so shaky right now offensively. It's frustrating to watch.
__________________
I like to Rock and Roll all night, and part of every day.
How in the hell could anyone fault Raymar Morgan for what was happening, or his performance tonight??? What did you want to see from him Sportz??? Organ donation?!?!
Look, MSU's post defense isn't where we need it to be right now. Hard to argue that. We also just happened to probably take UNC's best shot (certainly in the first half)...Call me crazy, but I'm a big MSU believer this year. Give Tom Izzo another month whipping Garrick Sherman (and Derrick Nix) into shape...Schooling them on appropriate switch technique, awareness and positioning - where both are seriously lacking, but Nix isn't even in the right zip code defensively.
I mean maybe it's just blind faith and an MSU bias, but you match those two teams back up on a neutral court in mid-January, and I'm gonna take the Spartans. In fact, at this point I'm leaning toward taking the Spartans against damn near every team in that scenario. The pieces are here folks. Credit to MSU for staying in this thing to the end, but if we get perimeter performances from: Allen, Lucas, Lucious, Summers etc...We'll struggle against quality opponents. The good thing is that I can't forsee too many nights goin' by where all those guys just aren't hitting - and there were a lot of good looks too.
My only point of contention or disappointment...Is the body language that I often see from Morgan and Allen. Other players feed off that stuff in a negative way. Allen's confidence is just so shaky right now offensively. It's frustrating to watch.
Agree with all of that. I was much more impressed with the second half (obviously....), when every contested jump shot by UNC wasn't going in. If not for a head butt into Morgan's groin, we're down 4 with ~2 minutes to play.
One issue that does bother me....I feel we play like spaz's out there at times. The two jacked up alley oops to Summers, Morgan and Roe dribbling into each other, random drives to the basket resulting in shots hitting off the side of the backboard (Lucious)....I'm sure its in large part due to UNC's defense, but half the time, I was just yelling "calm the F down". Then on the defensive end, one of UNC's big men would drain a contested jump shot from the FT line extended, and it was like nails on a chalkboard.
Personally, I don't think theres another game on our schedule, in March or otherwise, that would be as difficult as playing UNC last night in Chapel Hill....Time will tell, but I'm not exactly jumping ship here either.
__________________ MSU Basketball: Back-to-Back Big Ten Champions
How in the hell could anyone fault Raymar Morgan for what was happening, or his performance tonight??? What did you want to see from him Sportz??? Organ donation?!?!
Look, MSU's post defense isn't where we need it to be right now. Hard to argue that. We also just happened to probably take UNC's best shot (certainly in the first half)...Call me crazy, but I'm a big MSU believer this year. Give Tom Izzo another month whipping Garrick Sherman (and Derrick Nix) into shape...Schooling them on appropriate switch technique, awareness and positioning - where both are seriously lacking, but Nix isn't even in the right zip code defensively.
I mean maybe it's just blind faith and an MSU bias, but you match those two teams back up on a neutral court in mid-January, and I'm gonna take the Spartans. In fact, at this point I'm leaning toward taking the Spartans against damn near every team in that scenario. The pieces are here folks. Credit to MSU for staying in this thing to the end, but if we get perimeter performances from: Allen, Lucas, Lucious, Summers etc...We'll struggle against quality opponents. The good thing is that I can't forsee too many nights goin' by where all those guys just aren't hitting - and there were a lot of good looks too.
My only point of contention or disappointment...Is the body language that I often see from Morgan and Allen. Other players feed off that stuff in a negative way. Allen's confidence is just so shaky right now offensively. It's frustrating to watch.
Look, most of that was written at haltime, nowithstanding Morgan had 5 of the 11 turnovers, hit few if any jump shots, did little to step up and negate the first half run.
I think it's evident I'm not a real fan. How many drives to the hoop in the half court.. result in his shot getting packed?? How many open jumpers a game does he knock down..who does he "D" up??
He's a senior, supposedley a primary team leader..just dont see it..he played well in the 2nd half, got some garbage and fast break points..but overall..he's part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Allen is an unreliable, yet willing shooter the absolute worst kind to have. he shot 30% in the tournament last year and last night, his insistance on jacking up 3's and missing all of them, sure didn;t help did it.
The one thing I grasped from the game last night..Dexter Strickland..would have been a great get..
Lastly..Roe and Green..men
__________________ 2010 AAT Jordan Cruz 2009 AAT Rick Porcello, 14-9 ROY.
A. Bacon can be added to any food to make that food better.
B. No food can be added to bacon to make bacon better.
C. Therefore, bacon is better than any other food.
Last edited by sportz4life; 12-02-2009 at 01:00 PM.
Toledo @ #2 Michigan State - Game 3
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