WMUgoblue

April 28th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

So they've got to to be ranked top 5 preseason right? That's a whole lot of talent returning but they have little depth unless Alex Gauna progresses.

Blue boy johnson

April 28th, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^

Yes, I would think top 5 for sure.

3  5* stars and 2  4* in  the starting lineup. They will be formidable.

2 seniors a junior and 2 soph's in the starting lineup is a nice mix

Valentine and Trice coming off the bench is pretty good too. They need one of their Bigs to be serviceable, but with Kaminski, Guana, and the freshman they will find someone.

If ex Michigan target Russel Byrd ever gets it together they will have a nice 3 point threat.

 

Blue boy johnson

April 28th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^

Oh yes, Michigan is loaded. I wouldn't trade rosters with MSU, but with Payne's return they are going to be tough.

comparing 5 stars in regards to next season? IMO

McGary > Payne

GRIII > Dawson

Harris > Irvin

as for the others

Appling and Trice > Albrecht and Walton. Only because Appling is a senior.

Morgan > Costello. It's the senior thing again

Michigan bench > MSU bench

1 percent

April 28th, 2013 at 4:53 PM ^

Stauskas will have a year under his belt and be able to make 70 out of 76 3balls next time it is raining on court!

Idk if it is as much of an upgrade at SG but have Sophomore Stauskas, levert and throw in Irvin for a big boy line up and I'd take that. Hardaway to me was a really good player but definitely a replaceable player.

tbeindit

April 28th, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

Appling is not a good point guard.  He's a shooting guard who really doesn't shoot that well.  They put him in at point guard because he's insanely athletic, but he doesn't pass nearly well enough to be considered one of the conference's best point guards.  The minute he has to face a tough defender who can negate his athleticism, he struggles and does nothing.  I would take Walton & Spike all day over Appling, especially considering the shooters Michigan has on the outside that can nail a basket off a quick pass

Blue boy johnson

April 28th, 2013 at 3:51 PM ^

Dawson has an NBA body and NBA talent he just needs to put it all together.

He tore his acl late in his freshman year and  missed the NCAA tourney. His soph season was a bit of a disappointment, but I would expect a major jump up this season. He is a talent.

MSU may be better going small more often next season; Play Dawson at the 4 and get their more skilled players on the floor.

michfan4borw

April 28th, 2013 at 3:36 PM ^

on a good day could draw double teams.  Problem for MSU was his good days were usually only against Michigan.

Next year will be interesting.  MSU will be great on D again, but its offensive style of play has never impressed me.  I expect the same next year.

In reply to by michfan4borw

Needs

April 28th, 2013 at 3:52 PM ^

Yeah, this is what I mean. Nix could be tough in the post, but he was wildly inconsistent. Even after he lost all the weight, he still couldn't move very well. In addition, since his range was so limited, MSU basically had to put him on the block, clogging things up for Harris and Appling, who are good off the drive. Payne has a much more offensively diverse game. He's more mobile and has range to the 3. MSU will be more diverse offensively and able to play at more than one pace. As for Nix's rebounding, Izzo's teams are never going to struggle on the boards.

He was a bad matchup for us, because we didn't have (at that time in the year) two bigs we trusted defensively. But MSU without him has a higher upside.

michfan4borw

April 28th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^

*should be

I expect Izzo to kill any possibility of having a creative offense.  It's just not his style or ability.

Harris and maybe Payne will make his offense look good at moments, but it's not an offense to fear.

Michigan has a great opportunity to up its defense with the returning sophomores and Morgan/Horford in the paint.  Zak Irvin has great length too.  The ability of Spike or Walton to defend at the PG position will be huge.

Tater

April 29th, 2013 at 7:17 AM ^

That's another reason he is finding it harder to recruit.  John Beilein's offense is the "fun" offense, while Izzo is the stern taskmaster whose offense is more like work than play.  Of the two schools, Michigan is finally becoming the "destination" school again.  

Needs

April 29th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^

I really don't know that it will be.

I may be exaggerating the limits of Nix's game, but most players big enough to plausibly play the 4 or 5 are going to approach his production just as a function of being large men on the floor. Even if Izzo's not offensively innovative, Nix's absense frees up the offense from having a big blob on the low post clogging things up every position and potentially add something as a pick and pop player and in the open court, two things Nix could never do. 

He did give them a good post option when their offense got stagnant, but I think a lot of their offensive stagnancy (is that even a word) owed to his presence on the floor.

CR7

April 28th, 2013 at 4:03 PM ^

I agree with snarling wolverine. I don't see them being better this coming season than last. In fact, they'll likely be worse.

I've never seen anything from Dawson that would make me think he's gonna accel at anything other than defense, rebonding and the occasional open-court jam. He's not an NBA player by any means as he's undersized at the 3 and not at all a scoring threat as a 2. The fact that he doesn't have long arms like Draymond Green means he can't even carve out a niche like he has. Athlete or not, I just don't see it. Never have.

Appling regressed as a Junior and I'm not sold on him improving this season. Harris is a good player and will be their best but if Payne has to play the 5, you won't see the best of him. Conversely, this means more Gauna and Costello, which is laughable TBH.

michfan4borw

April 28th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^

Beauty of a no-look pass against a difficult Syracuse defense.

MSU will be slight favorite to win the B1G, but Indiana, Michigan and OSU aren't going anywhere with the recruits they got coming in.  MSU otoh has a critical 2014 class to develop with 2013 being so underwhelming.

gwkrlghl

April 28th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^

MSU's gonna be good next year. Seems like with all the talent that's leaving the conference, MSU has a good shot to run away with the conference title

HarBooYa

April 28th, 2013 at 3:37 PM ^

...the post Sullinger osu team. Going to be good. I Ustinov whether they will be definitively great. I think we are in the same boat. Depends a lot on our new pieces and how we react to losing a team MVP. I think without nix they are a much different and less intimidating team but maybe more athletic.

LS And Play

April 28th, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^

Interesting how State's 50-50 guys almost always seem to come back and ours almost always leave. I know Harris and Payne let Izzo get the information for them rather than applying for an evaluation. I wonder what the guy tells them. 

snarling wolverine

April 28th, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^

tate's 50-50 guys almost always seem to come back and ours almost always leave

This isn't true. We had at most three 50-50 guys this year (Burke doesn't count - his decision was obvious), and two stayed. Last year, when Burke was 50-50, he stayed.  The year before, Morris left, so altogether that works out to three of five staying and two leaving.