Predictions for Michigan-Michigan State
It's time for yet another matchup with a Top 10 opponent. Given the injuries to the frontcourt, Michigan State needs Gary Harris and Appling to put up dominating performances to win tonight. I hope Levert is put on Harris for most of the game. Similar to the Iowa game, stopping Michigan State's transition offense will be critical to winning tonight. I can't wait for this game. Predictions everyone?
68-64 Michigan
Go Blue!
January 25th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
71-66 State
And the board will melt down over a series of highly questionable offensive calls made early on Nik that will make him sit most of the first half. And late we'll get treated to more iffy calls against both Morgan & Horford. I predict the team with the fewest personal fouls in the country will find itself in deep foul trouble early and late due to off the ball moving screens and charging calls against our shooters and over the back calls against our bigs.
Breslin is one of those sphincter tightening arenas for the B1G refs. Their fans & Izzo intimidate the hell out of the officials and it shows.
January 25th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
I hate to admit that I kind of agree about the calls, but as a counter MSU is going to be out there with a couple of new-ish starters who are definitely not the same level defensively as Payne and Dawson. I'm not sure how refs typically respond to new players, but I'm guessing some of the presumptive calls you give to Payne, for example, aren't going to be there for Costello and Kaminski.
January 25th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
not really.
i think michigan wins this one by less than 10.
altogether now, just like those band guys/gals do the march: "it's great ! To be! a michigan Wolverine!"
repeat as necessary.
go blue.
January 25th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
MSU -61
Go Blue!
January 25th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
Go Blue!
January 25th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
complaining about them. Even if we lost to Wiscy and Iowa, at least it was pure basketball. I expect to be watching the typical thug gameplan today vs. a great game. Hey, sparts will spart.
January 25th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
I suspect State will hold serve at home, but it will be close. I worry that Harris and co. will be able to slow down Stauskas like Duke did, but the team is demonstrably different now than they were to start the year. But this is still a top-5 MSU team, at home, coming off some easier games. I actually wasn't that worried about them with Dawson since this team seems able to weather bigger bodies better than I ever expected (witness FSU, Arizona, Iowa), but even with Payne out Appling and Harris are going to be a handful on the perimeter and this just reeks of one of those games where some guy on MSU's bench goes 4/5 from 3 and is unstoppable for a 10-minute stretch. And let's be honest; UM's offense is very good, but this is a hot streak to an extent and you have to expect it will cool down at some point.
Still, after the past two games, this really is house money. Obviously I'm rooting for a win, but a loss that isn't a repeat of last year will be fine given the past couple of games.
January 25th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
A loss can never be described as "fine"
I'm sick of hearing people say, "We'll be fine" "They'll be fine"
WHAT DOES FINE EVEN MEAN?????
January 25th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
73-68 MSU. It's close til the end but they have the lead near the end and we're forced to foul in the closing seconds and they make their free throws. Blah.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
Ah Jalen, we hardly knew thee...still don't.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
I don't really see why this should be that close. No Payne, no Dawson, and the replacements are not fantastic. MSU is an incredibly dangerous team when healthy, not so much when they have zero rebounding presence thanks to injuries.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
I've went from thinking we could keep this close to we could win to we should win. If they were healthy, I think they would win, but given the fact they are missing two of their best players and we've looked our best, I think we take this one in a fairly comfortable single digit manner.
71-64.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
75-52 Michigan
January 25th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
I second all the comments about how poor officiating will dictate this game. Expect to see Stauskas with 2+ fouls in the first half, and at least one of the two bigs for us with 2+ as well.
The refs will force GR3, our PG's, and Irvin to beat staee.
I hate staee and their home court advantage.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
I think the loss of not just Payne but also Dawson will be too much for them to overcome at the rim. I also think that all the starters but Walton (who can be spelled by Spike,) will not be affected by the bright lights and the big stage. After beating Kansas, Florida & Syracuse, and playing Louisville even although jobbed by the refs, they're not going to be intimidated. More, I think that Stauskas especially is playing with a chip on his shoulder.
Score: 75 - 72.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
I think the loss of not just Payne but also Dawson will be too much for them to overcome at the rim. I also think that all the starters but Walton (who can be spelled by Spike,) will not be affected by the bright lights and the big stage. After beating Kansas, Florida & Syracuse, and playing Louisville even although jobbed by the refs, they're not going to be intimidated. More, I think that Stauskas especially is playing with a chip on his shoulder.
Score: 75 - 72.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
MSU 75-67.
Sorry. It's still Izzo talking up the refs in Breslin, injuries or not.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
Wait, nevermind.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
This board has turned into a bunch of ninnies.
Michigan by six.
January 25th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
I think it'll be very close but Michigan pulls it out 63-62.
January 25th, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
michigan will win 78 - 62
i honestly believe it will be a blow out
January 25th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
Nik and Harris cancel each other out
GR3 and Appling cancel each other out
Caris and Valentine cancel each other out
Costello and Morford (I prefer over Horgan) cancel each other out
Trice and Spike cancel each otherout
That leaves Zak + Walton vs a collection of Guana's and Kaminski's.... yep, I like it.
Wildcard - this is State's whole reason for being and UM is coming off 2 emotional hard fought games; hard for kids at this age to get up for 3. I expect a nail biter to the last bitter moment.
January 25th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
MSU bigs will be very uncomfortable defending the ball screen's.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
Oh what the hell.....71-65 good guys. Stauskas has another all-world night and helps the team settle down after a slow start in what will be an extremely hostile environment.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
I think untimely officiating plays a huge role in Staee winning a close one. Izzo is probably already working the refs by calling and texting them. If UM wins its because of light out shooting.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^
Stauskas drains another 3 pointer knowing their season has just gone to shit.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
Anyone else having trouble doing anything today because you're just counting the minutes until the game starts? Come join my support group.
January 25th, 2014 at 6:24 PM ^
too---and I thought I suddenly had developed a bad case of ADD.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
we can pull it off. I just think at the Bres is very tough to play even with sparty's absences. I say 63-61, sparty wins at buzzer.
January 25th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
msu wins by 12. stauskas gets shut down but caris steps up.
January 25th, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 6:21 PM ^
however, I will predict TOTAL 2014 DOMINATION !!!
January 25th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
Looks like I called it correctly!
TOTAL 2014 DOMINATION !!!