Thanks for starting this post, I love talking basketball!
Outside of the Legends Classic and the ACC/B10 challenge, the OOC schedule is very easy. I expect 8-9 OOC wins and 6-7 conference wins. Overall, an NIT invitation or a strong run in the B10 tourney would be a successful season for this group of players.
I am bummed there is no midnight celebration to start off the season though…
MSU is not a mediocre big ten team, they are looking like one of the top teams in the conference. I am not sure the issue is just conditioning and not lack of experience.
I am just feeling for Denard right now. I really believe that he will bounce back and use this as a learning experience; I just know it must be a difficult time right now.
The UM/ MSU games are always my favorite of season for football, hockey, and basketball. I am a UM student and have lots of friends/ family who go to both schools. It is great time to get together and talk- smack.
I am pretty sure region has nothing to do with this; and I had not heard anyone suggest Allen is any of those things mentioned.
It does not look good for Izzo to kick a senior off the team, who apparently did not commit any specific violation. Transfer rules are brutal for basketball and even more difficult academically for a senior to transfer his credits. I feel for Allen.
Don’t like the implications of your comment. It is unfortunate for you if you believe the racial composition of the team/ recruits is related to the quality of the program.
I think B10 has a tradition of the best coaches, fans, and conference leadership/management in the country. That is why we have such a good reputation.
Henning is standing behind his article. Izzo is insinuating that Henning has not spent a lot of time covering MSU in ‘his building’ (which I assume is Breslin Center). Henning pushed back that he has been covering this state for 58 years.
Izzo says media did not allow him to look at this opportunity, but I really don’t understand that. Did he expect no one to cover the story or speculate at all?
I am watching the press conference and MSU and Izzo are ripping the media. Izzo is giving Lynn Henning a piece of his mind, it is pretty hilarious. He challenged Henning to a debate in his office later.
I agree that Michigan could definitely stand to benefit from this situation. Several recruits/ current players have already talked to the press about the possibility to not go to/ staying at MSU should Izzo leave.
People have short memories and if UM beats MSU this year it will be viewed the end of an era. High school players who were too young to remember Michigan's success in the 80’s and 90’s will begin to see Michigan basketball as a program that will return to glory.
I meant that if his decisionis based primarily on L. James, it is not being handled well. It seems like they might have been able to get a better feel for the situation or waited a bit longer before everything went public for this length of time.
If it is the case that Izzo’s decision hinges on L. James (as it appears), then this whole thing has been handled horribly. Those details should have been worked out with more discretion before it all became so public.
I am not sure. There seemed to be a lot of drama last year between Izzo and his players. This situation might make the players not take him or MSU success for granted. If he comes back you bet there will be some great speech to the players about leaving a legacy and they will be more motivated than ever.
Then they win a championship and Izzo gets restless again…
Recent Comments
I am actually looking forward to this game. I think it will be closer than a lot pf people expect.
The weirdest thing of this game is that Izzo’s positive comments about his team after the win.
Michigan has the best fight song on the planet
Great news! Thanks for the update
Gary Harris
I am a bit surprised with the size of the crowd.
RIP to his brother Marcus, who died on this day in 2006. Thoughts and prayers to Simms as he continues to cope with this loss…
Since they went 8-0
The fans at Hondo Carpenter’s Spartan Nation Radio (on live now) seem to be unanimously disappointed in this decision.
Depaul?
They don't need to be great, they just need to win
We will know more after they play at iowa...
Thanks for starting this post, I love talking basketball!
Outside of the Legends Classic and the ACC/B10 challenge, the OOC schedule is very easy. I expect 8-9 OOC wins and 6-7 conference wins. Overall, an NIT invitation or a strong run in the B10 tourney would be a successful season for this group of players.
I am bummed there is no midnight celebration to start off the season though…
Just curious- where is the graffiti? I have not seen anything (I live and go to school here).
We absolutely got beaten by a better team.
MSU is not a mediocre big ten team, they are looking like one of the top teams in the conference. I am not sure the issue is just conditioning and not lack of experience.
Exactly; the team is off to a great start and this is only one loss. MSU has a very good team and no one really expected an undefeated season.
I am just feeling for Denard right now. I really believe that he will bounce back and use this as a learning experience; I just know it must be a difficult time right now.
I thought it was the perfect day for this thread because that is what this rivalry is about for me… talking smack with the ones you love.
“Zeke the wonder dog” is his name; actually I think they are on about Zeke #3 or 4 because the dogs die eventually
Thank you! I thought I was the only one with so many Spartans in the family…
Agree about Steve Smith. He also developed a yearly scholarship at his high school in Detroit; I really respect that.
He comes from a long line of Wonderful Terrifics
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Wonderful_Monds
EDIT: it looks like someone just posted this
I will be interested to see what Sam says tomorrow...
It looks like he still trying to make up his mind based on the article.
Agreed; I hope he is surrounded by people with his best interest in mind. We are all wishing him a speedy return to the sideline.
Well, the Dantonio story is pretty compelling... Lots of storylines makes for better TV
The UM/ MSU games are always my favorite of season for football, hockey, and basketball. I am a UM student and have lots of friends/ family who go to both schools. It is great time to get together and talk- smack.
Funny, the picture on the Scout.com link posted is definitely LLP not PLP.
3:30 is always the perfect kick off time; I am so pumped for this one
Luckily there are enough good players to go around. If we get Amir Williams and Gary Harris, we are in great shape.
Exactly, it is pretty clear he is not 'Plan A' in the eyes of the Michigan coaches
According to umhoops.com- Michigan coaches didn’t want to offer him until they knew he would commit right away.
Which is kind of like an offer…I think…
http://www.umhoops.com/2010/08/03/post-visit-qa-nick-stauskas/
Unless there is some substantial evidence, it is best not to keep repeating rumors.
We have no idea what happened and we should just leave it at that.
EDIT- this is in response to BlueInTheFace's comment
I am pretty sure region has nothing to do with this; and I had not heard anyone suggest Allen is any of those things mentioned.
It does not look good for Izzo to kick a senior off the team, who apparently did not commit any specific violation. Transfer rules are brutal for basketball and even more difficult academically for a senior to transfer his credits. I feel for Allen.
This is a very big loss for MSU. He was their best returning defender...
Congratulations to Greg Jones; he is one of those players I cannot help but like. He is fun to watch and seems like a good guy.
Don’t like the implications of your comment. It is unfortunate for you if you believe the racial composition of the team/ recruits is related to the quality of the program.
I think B10 has a tradition of the best coaches, fans, and conference leadership/management in the country. That is why we have such a good reputation.
edit- deleted
I feel that everytime I turn on BTN this week, that game is on. So heartbreaking...
I am also very shocked by this. Everyone I know close to the program say LLP is a strong student and very drama- free.
Dylan Burkhard over at umhoops.com stated that this rumor is false.
Henning is standing behind his article. Izzo is insinuating that Henning has not spent a lot of time covering MSU in ‘his building’ (which I assume is Breslin Center). Henning pushed back that he has been covering this state for 58 years.
Izzo says media did not allow him to look at this opportunity, but I really don’t understand that. Did he expect no one to cover the story or speculate at all?
I am watching the press conference and MSU and Izzo are ripping the media. Izzo is giving Lynn Henning a piece of his mind, it is pretty hilarious. He challenged Henning to a debate in his office later.
Wow; I am pretty shocked about the ‘for life’ part.
I thought for sure there would be a few more flirtations to come.
I agree that Michigan could definitely stand to benefit from this situation. Several recruits/ current players have already talked to the press about the possibility to not go to/ staying at MSU should Izzo leave.
People have short memories and if UM beats MSU this year it will be viewed the end of an era. High school players who were too young to remember Michigan's success in the 80’s and 90’s will begin to see Michigan basketball as a program that will return to glory.
I meant that if his decisionis based primarily on L. James, it is not being handled well. It seems like they might have been able to get a better feel for the situation or waited a bit longer before everything went public for this length of time.
Izzo is either being played or he is handling this very poorly.
If he does stay, he will have to do a lot of damage control with players and recruits.
If it is the case that Izzo’s decision hinges on L. James (as it appears), then this whole thing has been handled horribly. Those details should have been worked out with more discretion before it all became so public.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
To be fair, MSU was never alone. Always tied with Iowa and Indiana…
Nebraska is the outlier with their #96 ranking.
Conference rankings:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/03/15/athletic-conference-breakdown-2010-big-ten.html
I am not sure. There seemed to be a lot of drama last year between Izzo and his players. This situation might make the players not take him or MSU success for granted. If he comes back you bet there will be some great speech to the players about leaving a legacy and they will be more motivated than ever.
Then they win a championship and Izzo gets restless again…