MSU vs. OSU / College Basketball Afternoon Thread
Currently 11-11 with 15:30 to go...
I'm rooting for OSU to LOSE (see what I did there?). If the Buckeyes lose then the majority of the teams I don't want to see end up on the opposite side of the bracket. Including both MSU and OSU. Iowa is the only team on our side and they'd have to win 2 games before seeing Michigan.
B1G Tournament Bracket Generator: http://bball.notnothing.net/big10.php?sport=mbb
I question Tom Izzo's strategy for like... the whole game. Really awful job by him, and ending up with Denzel Valentine driving Craft on a key possession is positively Amaker-esque.
the good players from Flint. He's not a great coach when he has equal talent.
Why didn't they go after Monte Morris? I think they'll really regret that
I would say it's more that Izzo has always been a defense/rebounding guy and has never been all that great of an offensive coach. Over the years, he's used transition and offensive rebounding to mask his so-so halfcourt offenses.
Izzo's problem this year is that his team isn't built along his usual lines - it actually is very talented offensively, but just average at the other end. MSU this year needs to outscore teams to win, which would be fine if they had a Beilein-like offensive genius, but Izzo's not that. They're a sloppy mess offensively, as they often are, but now it particularly hurts them because they really need to be efficient at that end to make up for their nondescript D and rebounding. I think it's safe to say that Final Four streak is in serious jeopardy.
Top 100 players up and down the roster. Dawson, Appling, and Payne are 3-4th year top 50 (Dawson and Payne were 5 stars). It's not the equal talent thing.
MSU, where 5 star power forwards go to prep for acting school or European basketball. ( Ok, Payne will be in the NBA, but he is the first 5 star big guy, and it has taken all 4 years). I wonder why Parker didn't go there?
thought they won for a strong 2nd half showing against Iowa may have been a tad bit premature.
Given the way Iowa is completely tanking, they shouldn't have drawn too many conclusions from that one in the first place.
MSU still hasn't won two games in a row since the middle of January. 5-7 in their last 12 games.
But . . .but . . .I was told that they are a complete team capable of making a deep run in the NCAA's when healthy. Good thing you only have to win 6 straight to win the NC.
Oh, wait.
Is still....???? OT wins at home vs OSU or At Iowa? Probably Texas 3 months ago. How about a 6 seed for these guys.
Nebraska!
Best outcome you could ask for other than both teams losing.
Don't kid yourself, both teams did lose that pathetic game.
old man Izzo would be a beautiful thing.
A girl can dream....
Is "Michigan State and Ohio were once top-five" the new "Illinois was once ranked?"
On senior day, Craft's team get the win, and while going through the line, Craft says something to Izzo, and Izzo just blows him off. Way to remember is all about the kids, Tom.
We may not like him, but Craft deserves better in that situation.
Depends what he said...
The benefit of the doubt there. Pesky, overrated, and the benefit of a lot of non-calls, yes. Trash talker, no. Seemed like a senior enjoying his last home game. I really doubt it was anything deserving of that reaction.
Izzo gave Beilein a blow-by handshake last time in Crisler. I see where Crean learned it from.
Rexrode tweets Izzo had to be pulled away from Ohio fan.
Man, if my team won with that trainwreck down the stretch, I might back away slowly and walk out quietly.
Who am I kidding, a win is a win. But still, taunting after that shit show?
dupe
My OSU friend called that a "big Ten" game. With that expectation, I am no longer shocked we won the whole thing with a game to spare.
Don't worry guys. Once they get Payne and Dawson back and once Appling is healthy, and once they get some depth guys to keep the starters fresh, they're basically unbeatable.
And if they had got Parker. Maybe when he transfers to do his masters at MSU...
Goodness, Minny, come on. PSU with FTs to cut it to 14. This was like a 30 point game.
Whichever moron is announcing here doesn't seem to realize that this just became a game.
Is just not that good. I give them credit for hitting 10-20 50% from deep, but how do you lose to a very poor offensive team while shooting that well?
Turn it over 6 more times and foul 10 more times than the other team. That's how.
Turnover machines that have become lazy. Ohio had any and every lose ball and tried to give the game away with missed free throws. Both teams look extremely week to any realistic basketball fan.
Per Joe Rexrode - Tom Izzo got into with an OSU fan postgame and had to be restrained. You stay classy Tiny Tom
Izzo: "She was a jerk - do you want me to tell the truth or do you want me to lie?"
oy vey. He's lost it.
just wow.
My Alma Mater's made it to the conference championship! Go Tribe!
{Wendel Clark said...
Your opinion that MSU will easily beat UM is based on what?}
"the fact, for the first time, we'll have our entire team. Appling penetrating changes our entire offense; Dawson is our best perimeter defender (ie we don't have Russel flocking Byrd defending Stauskas) and rebounder. MSU healthy is the best team in the big 10, by far. Things are JUST starting to click. Did we play great today? No...plenty of room for improvement...but we win today by 10 if it's fairly officiated (and everyone here is feeling good). Injuries F'd us out of a b10 title; reg season is over, everyone's back, now go bitch slap those cheating pieces of $hit from AA and get our mojo back. I'll see you in Dallas"
Wow. Just....wow.
have a lot of respect for Tom and his program but this year has really been pathetic to listen to their fans buy into the crap Izzo is slinging around.
I've never wanted a team to fail in the first round of the NCAA tournament more.
Tom Izzo sucks.
To be fair, there's nothing keeping that guy from going to Dallas. Perhaps he wants to see the Texas School Book Depository or go to Six Flags. He could even go to the Final Four games. I just don't expect Sparty's players to be on the court while he's there. ;-)
Izzo's post-game radio comments. The guy once again sounded horrible, deeply depressed horrible. Is he always this inconsolable after a loss or something going on that is bothering him? He did manage to find his voice when asked about the impact of having so many injuries. Guess what? He said having guys sitting because of foul trouble was like not being at full strength.
I didn't see the end of the game but would love to see the video of him going at it with a fan. I also like how he complained about the officiating AND said that Harris had a sprained ankle. Dude needs a Magic 8 Ball filled with different excuses, "Sun in Eyes", "Dog ate Homework", "It was the Wind", "Bad Calls", "Fans were Mean", "Still thinking of Excuses; ask again later".
He's used every excuse in the book short of blaming a crowned court.
Izzo used to be tough, demanding, etc., and got a lot out of his kids. Have to believe that the never-ending chant of "bad officials + inuries" instead of "next man up" is helping cause some of the underperformance this year.