Online Now 3089

MSU Red Cedar Message Board

The largest and most active MSU Spartans board on the web

On this Board 2211
Record: 12118 (3/18/2012)

Online now 2864
Record: 10351 (3/11/2012)

Boards ▾

MSU Red Cedar Message Board

The largest and most active MSU Spartans board on the web

The Press Box

The place to ask questions to SpartanTailgate's recruiting experts

Duffy Daugherty Forum

"The Duff" is dedicated to Michigan State football recruiting discussion

Jack Breslin Forum

"The Bres" is dedicated to Michigan State basketball recruiting discussion

Wells Hall Off Topic Board

This is your pulpit to preach to the masses about everything from politics to religion

Marketplace & Ticket Exchange

The place to buy, trade or sell Michigan State tickets

Fantasy Sports Forum

For fantasy football and other fantasy sports discussion

Test/Feedback Forum

Reply

ESPN Insider: Best Izzo Offense Ever and Final Four Threat

  • mark_v said...

    1. Something about showing the ability as a team to play well at different speeds. 2. Something about Green, though the whole world already knows Green and doesn't underrate him. 3. Something about the Nix-Payne tandem and the advantage of that vs. a star big man who plays 35 minutes. 4. The efficiency of the guards.

    Those would be my 4.

    That's more like it. I was about to accuse you of being a slave to empiricism - of consulting Statsheet like Gulliver's watch. (That approach might make sense in professional baseball, but in college basketball the sample sizes are just too small).

    Your point 4 maps to Gasaway's point 3 in the original article. But it's saner and more comprehensive. Gasaway's praise was limited to Wood, and did not include our other guards.

    This post was edited by numberonealcove on 1/27/2012 at 5:07 PM

    numberonealcove

  • mark_v said...

    1. Something about showing the ability as a team to play well at different speeds. 2. Something about Green, though the whole world already knows Green and doesn't underrate him. 3. Something about the Nix-Payne tandem and the advantage of that vs. a star big man who plays 35 minutes. 4. The efficiency of the guards.

    Those would be my 4.

    I would add something about depth.

    This post was edited by red_cedar on 2/15/2012 at 1:10 PM

    attachment

    Draymond Green, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson are the only players to have two triple-doubles in the NCAA Tournament.

    red_cedar

  • SpartanRocky said...

    If MSU finishes the Big 10 season with a 14-4 record, then I'll believe it. I think this team, as it's playing currently, will reach the Sweet 16, but doesn't have the overall team experience to make it past then, barring a great match-up.

    When I look at the college landscape, the only team that scares me is Syracuse. The length they have on their zone would be problematic for us. Other than that, every team has flaws. Give me Tom Izzo and a team that can run a half court offense, play defense and rebound and I will take my chances. There isn't a team out there that has experience when it comes to getting to the final 4 and winning a national championship.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Spartyshannon

  • Don't care what any of yall say...this team is special and you can see it. So much drive. I haven't seen this much drive since the '09 run when I saw players like walton and morgan chasing down loose balls (don't laugh) while Louisville players were busy show boating...

    SpartyFever10

  • mark_v said...

    So i guess Brandon Wood is the new Austin Thornton. tRCMB has to have at least one guy who they think is terrible even when he's playing well. Some more stats on Wood in the past month, in B10 play:

    Shooting 43%, averaging 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 turnover per game. Good numbers for someone who is being asked to be a long-range, shoot-first swing guard. 6th best Roland Rating in the B10, counting only conference games. That's outstanding.

    If Wood fails your eyeball test, you need to wipe the bias off your glasses or get new eyeballs. Wood is playing great, even if he missed 4 shots (oh my god what kind of a terrible player does that!?!) last game and was tentative vs. scUM. Doesn't anybody remember how he dominated IU?

    The one big step he has to take is putting out a big game in a tough road venue. Him and about 99% of the other starting guards in the country. If ESPN likes him, that's just a bonus.

    The criticism of Wood has been vastly overstated. It has actually been quite mild.

    Beastial

  • SpartanRocky said...

    Trust me, I haven't forgotten that. I also know that freshmen tend to hit a wall, and MSU has 3 (Kearney, Trice and Dawson) that are now regular contributors. If they finish the Big 10 at 14-4, then I'll believe they can go further than the Sweet 16. They've had some problems on the road (Ls to Northwestern and UM, letting Wisconsin claw back), don't shoot particularly well at the FT line, have young guards and are inconsistent from 3 pt range. Those are all issues in the tournament.

    Free throws and crunch time outside shooting a concern

    judsforehead

  • mark_v said...

    So i guess Brandon Wood is the new Austin Thornton. tRCMB has to have at least one guy who they think is terrible even when he's playing well. Some more stats on Wood in the past month, in B10 play:

    Shooting 43%, averaging 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 turnover per game. Good numbers for someone who is being asked to be a long-range, shoot-first swing guard. 6th best Roland Rating in the B10, counting only conference games. That's outstanding.

    If Wood fails your eyeball test, you need to wipe the bias off your glasses or get new eyeballs. Wood is playing great, even if he missed 4 shots (oh my god what kind of a terrible player does that!?!) last game and was tentative vs. scUM. Doesn't anybody remember how he dominated IU?

    The one big step he has to take is putting out a big game in a tough road venue. Him and about 99% of the other starting guards in the country. If ESPN likes him, that's just a bonus.

    Here's another thing to think of.

    Brandon Wood this year versus Summers last year. Wood is a huge upgrade. Plays within the system, doesn't turn it over, scores when needed, plays good defense. It also seems like his teammates enjoy playing with him.

    This team is Final Four capable, and Wood has been a great addition. He can contribute without scoring, something that Summers had difficulty with last year.

    MSU_Lew ●

  • I would be shitting my pants at the thought of drawing this MSU team in the NCAA Tourney.

    We're going to the Final Four.

    "RCMB: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainry." - some dude from MgoBlog

    JEK ●

  • Experience in a 1 and done situation is sometimes overvalued. This team will have been playing together solidly since October, and in pick up games since the summer. Payne, Nix, Appling, and Green have been together for 2+ years. Yes you're incorporating freshman, but lets not make it seem like we're Kentucky constantly losing our starting 5.

    The Matador

  • MSU is not underrated. Personally I think our guard play is down.

    MSU is still much better though than I thought they would be.

    spartanMF ●

  • spartanMF said...

    MSU is not underrated. Personally I think our guard play is down.

    MSU is still much better though than I thought they would be.

    Our guard scoring is down. Not our guard play. Defense and passing are kind of important. Turnovers are also down.

    Anyone. Anyplace. Anytime.

    rookmsu ●

  • Look, its no big secret. When MSU rebounds at an elite level and defends well, they are a threat to do major FF type damage. Go back and look at the rebounding margin nationally at the last two FF teams, then look where it was last year. WAY down. Poor results.

    You combine elite rebounding, Plus defense, Izzo's savy, and outstanding senior leadership, you are flat going to be a tough out.
    My big concerns going forward are consistant perimeter scoring, and interior foul trouble. I dont yet trust Guana inside, and if either Payne or Nix are benchridden with foul problems, this team becomes mighty smallish, because of their lack of long minutes stamina.
    Thankfully, with both playing about 20 minutes and reaching less and less defensively as time has went on, the perimeter scoring consistancy is my main worry.

    Another thing i have noted is that Izzo has yet to decide who the 5th guy he wants on the floor at crunch time is going to be. He WANTS Dawson, but we all know why he hasnt done that yet. He seems to like Kearney in that spot, but he is pretty darn green. Be curious to see how that shakes out, right now i give Thornton that spot, and he may well keep it.

    Mudjin harbor

  • numberonealcove said...

    3. Brandon Wood's efficiency (lost me on this point)

    Wood has had a very solid year, he's struggled a bit in his last few games but when you look at the full season he has been a key part of the team.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Sparts

  • MSU_Lew said...

    Here's another thing to think of.

    Brandon Wood this year versus Summers last year. Wood is a huge upgrade. Plays within the system, doesn't turn it over, scores when needed, plays good defense. It also seems like his teammates enjoy playing with him.

    This team is Final Four capable, and Wood has been a great addition. He can contribute without scoring, something that Summers had difficulty with last year.

    Exactly, even with the recent slump Wood is shooting 48% from the field as primarily a 3 pt shooter, plus a 2:1 assist to TO ratio. Last year Summers shot 39% with a 1:2 ratio.

    There is also something to be said for Wood fitting in with the team and playing his role well, versus Summers being the star having a disappointing season.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Sparts

  • rookmsu said...

    Our guard scoring is down. Not our guard play. Defense and passing are kind of important. Turnovers are also down.

    They were quite poor against UM and Minnesota.

    If anyone wants to talk FF, the guards need to improve.

    By the way scoring counts as well.

    spartanMF ●

  • spartanMF said...

    They were quite poor against UM and Minnesota.

    If anyone wants to talk FF, the guards need to improve.

    By the way scoring counts as well.

    Izzo said that Appling was excellent against Minny despite the shooting and that Wood played great D. And how about the other 16 games we've won? As usual, you're shortsighted. You can't just look at one end of the floor, and you can't just look at one or two games. Appling won us 4 games largely on his own during the streak.

    Anyone. Anyplace. Anytime.

    rookmsu ●

  • rookmsu said...

    Izzo said that Appling was excellent against Minny despite the shooting and that Wood played great D. And how about the other 16 games we've won? As usual, you're shortsighted. You can't just look at one end of the floor, and you can't just look at one or two games. Appling won us 4 games largely on his own during the streak.

    Wood was benched coming out in the second half.

    Please.

    spartanMF ●

  • spartanMF said...

    Wood was benched coming out in the second half.

    Please.

    Read Izzo's postgame. Please.

    Anyone. Anyplace. Anytime.

    rookmsu ●

  • rookmsu said...

    Read Izzo's postgame. Please.

    Guards have them right where they want them. thumbsup

    spartanMF ●

  • Good bump lol

    MSUMAN777

Michigan State
247Sports
Features
Resources
Connect

247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports