OT: Men’s Hoops - from Top Four to “not even others receiving votes”.. asking for a green & white friend

Submitted by Amazinblu on December 10th, 2023 at 9:27 PM

A friend of mine asked me.. what is the fastest a men’s basketball team has gone from a Top Four pre-season ranking to.. not even “others receiving votes” in the AP and Coaches polls?

It seems like the green & white could set a record..  Could it be another record setting seas for that squad?

Basketball

bronxblue

December 10th, 2023 at 9:48 PM ^

It is sort of crazy that people thought a team that was a 7-seed last year in the tournament but was wildly inconsistent all year would return basically that team, sprinkle in a couple of highly-regarded freshmen to be used by a coach who despises young guys and has no idea how to use them, and just assume they'd be a top-5 team.  Walker is the one really good player on that team and everyone else is complementary, and that's a recipe for, you guessed it, another 20-ish wins and a 7/8 seed in the NCAA tourney. 

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171779

WolverineHistorian

December 10th, 2023 at 9:50 PM ^

The more logical question is why were they ranked #4 to start the season?

I didn’t expect them to already have 5 losses the first week of December (happy to be wrong) but at some point, the pollsters have to go on something other than their lust for Izzo. 

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 55466

NittanyFan

December 10th, 2023 at 10:26 PM ^

I didn't watch any of the game tonight --- but I've seen a little bit of them this season.  Izzo looks more tired than I've ever seen him, and the team lacks any sort of leadership (that's typically never been an issue either).

Izzo is 68 - Heathcote retired at 68.  I'm not sure if Izzo is ready (or willing) to hang it up just yet: but it does look like he's approaching the end-game.  Nate Oats, meanwhile, is 49 .........

Joined: 12/04/2012

MGoPoints: 43109

Cruzcontrol75

December 10th, 2023 at 11:43 PM ^

my comments from the previous MSU related thread:

I said it after their loss to James Madison, Izzo looked exhausted in the post game.  but even more he looked tired of the sh!t.   after tonight’s loss at Nebraska, who they havent lost to since 2016 (11 straight), he walked off the court with the body language that he was tired of it.  They are 4-5 and he’s not looking like someone willing to rebuild this team.

appeared very deflated in post game presser, mostly staring down at notes while talking into the mic and rubbing temple and forehead.  "looks like we’re going to have to do some restructuring" when talking about his post defense.  I don’t think he has much left in the tank and he’s already exasperated by this edition of MSU basketball.  

Joined: 05/20/2015

MGoPoints: 8774

alum96

December 10th, 2023 at 10:43 PM ^

Pre season rankings in every sport are dumb.

That said they have the golden ticket in college basketball, 2 senior guards.  Walker the transfer is good.  Hoggard is pathetic.   Without Walker they might win 4 games in the B10 - he is the entire team.

They also have multiple 4 and 5 stars doing little.  Izzo needs to break them all down mentally for 2-3 years and rebuild them up as RS JRs and RS SRs.  Sorry Tom that doesn't work in the portal era. 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82517