Further evidence to determine the caliber of person who slaps the floor
Right after the dunk around 1.29.30 (slap's at 1.29.43 to be exact), if I played for State and a Dwight Schrute look a like came that far on my court to slap the floor, I'd sprint over there and run him over. Of course that is probably because I have difficulty thinking rationally about Tom Crean.
Seriously though, what an idiot. It's one thing when 18-22 year old kids do stuff to get pumped up, but that guy is a joke out there.
This post was totally not worth the effort, sorry.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:45 AM ^
That we can abide by a strict double standard here.
It's okay for us to do it, but others are douches when they do it.
I'm good with that.
January 28th, 2014 at 7:37 AM ^
Coming from a fan base that lauds Desmond Howard's "Heisman pose," I find it odd that we're getting in the habit of denouncing gestures.
It's a bunch of dudes who are hitting wooden planks with their palms. What exactly are we upset about?
January 28th, 2014 at 7:56 AM ^
January 28th, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^
January 28th, 2014 at 8:40 AM ^
So who are we making fun of here? The Duke Blue Devils, who certainly have backed up their floor slapping? Michigan State, who's been better than Michigan for most of the last 15 years? Tom Crean because he looks like Dwight Schrute? Is there a committee that decides which floor slaps are acceptable and which are not?
January 28th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^
We make fun of him because he's a dick. If he was a nice dude, and looked like exactly like a mix of Tom Brady and Jim Carrey, I wouldn't mention it.
He's a dick, it's dumb the way he jumps around on the sideline. That is it.
January 28th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
The guy above disagrees. He thinks we're making fun of Michigan State. I'm confused.
January 28th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
Ha, fair enough. I suppose I only speak for myself. Personally, I believe MSU plays better/more physical defense than I've seen out of Michigan like ever. If slapping the floor helps them mentally or physically lock in to their defensive goals and mindset, fine.
I just think it looks awful silly when a head coach jumps around in the sideline like that. Most NCAA coaches agree with me, as I can only think of a few (like I said before, Matta is the only other B1G guy that comes to mind) who behave that way.
Also to be clear: I am no complaining about becoming excited/animated. It is doing the things that are normally reserved for players. Jumping around in celebration, waving arms to incite the crowd, interacting with the crowd/players/the other team's bench in any way.
When Crean slaps the floor, I'm pretty sure it's more about being pumped or something than a coaching point to his team to focus on defense (note ridiculously huge fist pump after he does). Crean and Matta do this crap a lot, and it annoys me.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
Maybe I'm biased, because I've been known to jump up and down when my team makes a big interception or kick return or something. I don't see a problem with coaches getting amped up and doing stuff like that, and I don't see a problem with a stoic sideline demeanor like Brady Hoke or Bill Belichick. Different strokes for different folks.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
I get that. I think football's a bit different. [Most] coaches don't wear suits. Lots of coordinators really get amped. You just don't see it in hoops, and it looks out of place to me.
Plus did I mention Crean's a dick?
January 28th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
No, you didn't mention Crean's dick, but I'd like to hear more...
January 28th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
You're just upset you didn't get invited to join the committee.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
I want to be on EVERY committee.
January 28th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
I agree with the "why are you taking this so seriously?" flavor of your question, but in most instances it does not seem to apply. It seems the majority of us aren't upset by the hand slapping - we're amused.
This discussion started largely through Brian's post yesterday where MSU did the demonstrative hand slap gesture, only to have Michigan repeatedly score right after they did it. A lot of us think that's funny. It's on the order of a baseball player dramatically calling his shot, and then whiffing on three straight pitches. And then the next batter dramatically calling his shot, and striking out. And then the next batter dramatically calling his shot, and striking out.
I, for one, support our E. Lansing siblings' right to slap floors. And tables, for that matter. As a matter of fact, I'd like to point out to Spartan nation that tables and walls in general have not shown them sufficient respect, and it's up to the Spartan players to give those tables and walls a solid thrashing.
January 28th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
It's on the order of a baseball player dramatically calling his shot, and then whiffing on three straight pitches. And then the next batter dramatically calling his shot, and striking out. And then the next batter dramatically calling his shot, and striking out.
Same order?! I mean, I understand your point, but you describe something happening three times in a row that has literally never happened once.
None of us have ever seen a batter call his shot (save Jake Taylor), let alone swing and miss 3 times following.
Slapping the floor happens in high school and college basketball all the time.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^
I wasn't asserting that it's a common occurrence. It was an analogy: in both instances, you have an athlete calling out his opponent, and the same athlete being a tad embarrassed after they fail to accomplish their declared result. In the MSU game, that unaccomplished result being shutting down Michigan's offense during that possession. In baseball, that unaccomplished result being hitting the ball to where the batter points during that at-bat. Sorry if the analogy did not work for you. Maybe I could have done better - I admit it's far from perfect.
But how do you base your assertion below? (I like your replies/posts in general, BTW.)
(Y)ou describe something happening three times in a row that has literally never happened once. None of us have ever seen a batter call his shot (save Jake Taylor), let alone swing and miss 3 times following.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
Good point. What is it about MSU and hostility toward inanimate objects? Whether its their students burning couches, Brandon Dawson punching a table, or their basketball team slapping floors, they have this weird need to attack things that most of us find helpful.
January 28th, 2014 at 7:59 AM ^
floor slapping happens a lot. It's an "in the moment" thing. Kids play with passion. As a coach, I love it! Of course, I like defensive stops better, but to me, it shows leadership and it normally gets the crowd into it which often times fuels the players. I have no problem with it, frankly, the fact that we care or are making fun of it is really odd. Seems like I remember Novak doing something like it before.
January 28th, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^
I coached youth basketball for a long time and I wanted the kids to do it because the only way you really could do it was in the proper definsive basketball stance. I liked it because it meant not only was my team physically ready to play defensive (butt down) they were also mentally ready to play defense (slapping floor).
I'm with Magnus on this one. Much, much, MUCH ado about nothing here. The best way to counter it (if this really, really bothers you) is to simply score. But for the life of my I cant figure out why this bothers us.
January 28th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
sure. Tom Crean: no.
January 28th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
I agree 100%. I'd be totally fine if UM started doing it - as you said, gets you mentally and physically ready to play D.
In fact I just slapped the floor here under my desk. I'm ready to some serious f'in typing now....
January 28th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
I'm with Magnus and mGrowOld here.
As a basketball coach I love it. When your leaders are fired up for a defensive stop, it shows that they are playing their hearts out and are going to bust their ass. Defending for a basketball possession takes much more physical exertion than playing on offense - it's time to bear down, get low and move your feet.
I love it, no matter who does it, because it takes the focus off of dunking and hitting threes and puts it on defense.
Why it bothers anyone is beyond me.
January 28th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
So Crean's player dunked on a fast break, and he slaps the floor as a way to coach his players to be ready on defense again (i.e., to not relax after the fast break and dunk). Yeah, this just awful. Coaches coaching - I'm really pissed!
January 28th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
All this slapping of floors...give me the ball, I'm going to shoot.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
Since last year's M-MSU game I cannot tell you how many people slap the floor/dirt/ice in amateur games I've seen.
We were doing it in Come Play Detroit softball games. People do it against the sand in pickup volleyball games at my brother's beach. High schoolers lean down and slap the ice at Onyx Arena. Who cares if Crean's doing it now. It's just a damn slap on the floor.