MSU Red Cedar Message Board

see how well they do saturday night

Our wins have all been blowouts (except the 3-pt win at Wisconsin) and our losses have all been close (5 losses by a total of 26 pts). The computers like that. We've also played a top 5 schedule (soon to be #1) - the computers love that too.

Hahaha... awesome.

I like watching them play, which is saying a lot after last year.

We've got a lot of talented players, including some great young players who are really going to develop, (it's easy to forget that Appling is just a soph). We've also got size and length, and we've been crushing people on the boards. We win a lot of our games just on size and numbers. If we wind up as a 2 or 3 seed, we've really got a shot at another FF.

Still, there's something missing with this team that's hard to put your finger on. It's not exactly floor chemistry, b/c we get a lot of assists, and we've been playing strong team D most of the year. I get the sense that we've got too many players who haven't figured out the playbook, which makes it difficult for us to run Izzo's full plan. We run much fewer sets than in years past. I also question this team's hunger at times. The road losses bug, we could've won any one of those three games. It's almost like this team doesn't realize what's out there for them, and how much the losses matter. Day Day's been around the block, obviously, but I kind of feel he's developed a "Nothing matters until March" attitude, like everything will be fine in the tournament, no matter what happens during the season. Cursed by our success, I guess.

But I do like watching this team very much.

I agree with Bruce as I'm enjoying watching the team play this year. Walked out on two games last year (Texas at home and UCLA in St. Pete) as I couldn't stand watching the non-compete mode they were in. Summers, Lucas, Lucious, it was awful. I had "head in the sand" Spartan Fans around me calling me a bad Spartan Fan for leaving but I paid my $ and I decided I could spend that time better at the bar. This year has been a very pleasant surprise and alot of praise goes to Green and Izzo. Whatever we do these next 6-8 wks is all gravy! I'm an 84 Grad and this by far is one of my most satisfying as a fan. I surely won't walk out this Sat in CBus! GO STATE!

What's your top ten?

Aren't we leading the BT in 3-point shooting? But man, those lay-ups...

Even the dolphins like us, and they're supposed to be pretty smart (for a mammal at least)

During Big Ten games, MSU is third in 3p% and fourth in 2p%.

My only concern is that at times our shooting percentage and by implication our shot selction are gawd-awful.

My concern for this team: 3 words, kids: Free Throws.

This team can't shoot. They got hot for a bit, but nobody of this team should be considered an above average outside shooter. What's saved them has been the inside presence of the frontline - Green, Dawson, and Adrick Pix.