Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Let's hope they're right...
I just took an ESPN Poll. Let's hope the 229,199 other people who have taken the poll so far are right about what's about to go down in the tournament : Total Votes: 229,199
1) Which team will win the East Regional?
49.5% North Carolina
2) Which team will win the Midwest Regional?
46.9% Kansas
3) Which team will win the South Regional?
48.5% Michigan State
4) Which team will win the West Regional?
72.3% UCLA
5) What was the biggest surprise of the first two rounds?
34.5% (12) Western Kentucky's buzzer-beating 3-pointer over (5) Drake
6) Which No. 1 seed is most likely to lose before the Final Four?
76.1% Memphis
7) Who has been the most outstanding player of the first two rounds?
42.0% Drew Neitzel, Michigan State
29.8% Stephen Curry, Davidson
8) Which Cinderella is most likely to reach the Final Four?
59.5% (5) Michigan State
18.8% (10) Davidson
9) How many of your Final Four teams remain?
50.9% 4
10) Which team will win the NCAA tournament?
42.6% Michigan State
21.3% North Carolina
CBS Sports breaks down MSU-Temple matchup
Posted by Chris Mackinder March 18, 2008 19:31PM MLive
Gary Parrish and another CBS Sports reporter break down the Michigan State/Temple matchup and both seem to be leaning toward Michigan State in the game.
A few other statistical numbers for you:
-ESPN SportsNation likes the Spartans by an 80 percent to 20 percent margin.
-Accuscore, which simulates each game more than 100,000 times, has MSU winning 66 percent of the matchups.
Gary Parrish and another CBS Sports reporter break down the Michigan State/Temple matchup and both seem to be leaning toward Michigan State in the game.
A few other statistical numbers for you:
-ESPN SportsNation likes the Spartans by an 80 percent to 20 percent margin.
-Accuscore, which simulates each game more than 100,000 times, has MSU winning 66 percent of the matchups.
Spartans want to run with Memphis
by Steve Grinczel March 25, 2008 00:30AM MLive
EAST LANSING -- The misconceptions and misrepresentations of the Michigan State basketball team have begun anew.
On Sunday night, for example, ESPN studio analyst Digger Phelps said that if Memphis is able to lure MSU into an up-tempo transition game in the NCAA tournament South Region semifinals in Houston, it will spell dire consequences for the Spartans.
Phelps apparently is oblivious to the fact Michigan State would like nothing better than to have the 9:57 p.m. game at Reliant Stadium turn into a track meet.
Memphis, the region's top seed and ranked No. 1 in the nation for much of the season, is known for terrific athletes and the ability to run opponents into the floor boards with a withering fast break.
Fifth-seeded MSU, meantime, is stereotyped as a halfcourt team because of the numerous sets and plays coach Tom Izzo employs out of necessity during the Big Ten grind.
However, to suggest the Spartans (27-8) do not want to run with the Tigers is just plain wrong.
"I do see this as an up-and-down game," Izzo said Monday at his regular weekly news conference. "I hope it is an up-and-down game because I think we have enough depth and we can run, and they are going to run.
"Their break is as good as anybody's in the country, so I'd have to agree with Digger on one thing," Izzo added with a laugh. "But only one."
Izzo spent much of last week trying to debunk the perception that the Spartans are ultra-physical and win by putting opposing players in hammer locks until they cry "uncle."
The Spartans out-toughed a hard-nosed Pittsburgh team in Saturday's second-round game in Denver to advance to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in 11 years, but "that was not a slugfest like it was made out to be," Izzo said.
Despite Phelps' assessment, Izzo has never made a secret of the fact he would be happiest if he never had to call a play and every MSU basket came off an easy layup that finished a fast break.
The reality of the situation is that Big Ten opponents know this and take great pains to stop the Spartans' running game.
Some teams do not even contest offensive rebounds because they know Michigan State will dominate the boards and want to use missed shots to fuel its break. It's better to get all five players back on defense where they can clog up the running and passing lanes.
If Memphis (35-1) really wants to frustrate MSU, it will walk the ball up like Iowa did in its 43-36 upset of the Spartans in Iowa City, and run the shot clock down to five seconds to limit the number of scoring opportunities. Michigan State had a season-low 16 field goals in that game.
But that would be totally out of character for the Tigers, and the Spartans are thrilled.
"Of course, why not?" said freshman guard Kalin Lucas, who is at his best when he can use his speed and quickness in the open court. "It's going to be a fast-paced game and very physical."
Lucas scored the game-clinching layup against Pitt on a run-out after senior guard Drew Neitzel rebounded a 3-point miss and passed to him for a one-man break.
Michigan State had just eight fast-break points, but they felt so liberating.
"In the Big Ten, teams try to take our break away," Lucas said. "We were able to run a little bit better (against Pitt), and I think we'll be able to do the same thing in this game and still run our offensive plays."
With All-American freshman guard Derrick Rose running the show, Memphis is averaging just fewer than 80 points per game compared to MSU's 71, so Izzo does not necessarily want to see the game get into the 90s.
"What I hope we do is somewhat stop some of their fast break, or, contain it would be a better word because I don't think you're going to stop it.
"I thought (Phelps) would tell me to zone (defend) them because that's what he usually tells me."
Calipari expects a battle
Phelps isn't the only one who might be surprised to see MSU run wild.
"They (the Spartans) play a grind-it-out game offensively," Tigers coach John Calipari said Monday during a news conference in Memphis. "They're used to an every-possession-matters-type game, because you're not going to have a lot.
"You are not going to have the normal 80-possession games. Those games are going to be down in the 60's because of how they play. They run great stuff, but they really grind it out."
Maybe Calipari thinks he is playing Iowa.
Multi-faceted opponent
On the other hand, Izzo said in the event MSU does stop Memphis' transition game, and its dribble-penetration and kick-out passes, it has to be ready to defend in the halfcourt.
"I think Memphis' offense is unique," Izzo said. "And yet, John is a good coach and as he said to me a couple weeks ago, he's still running more plays now instead of just that offense. I think that's because sometimes too much freedom can hurt you, too.
"You try to find warts you can exploit," Izzo said. "I haven't found a lot yet. But it's only Monday and hopefully by (today) we'll find a few more."
EAST LANSING -- The misconceptions and misrepresentations of the Michigan State basketball team have begun anew.
On Sunday night, for example, ESPN studio analyst Digger Phelps said that if Memphis is able to lure MSU into an up-tempo transition game in the NCAA tournament South Region semifinals in Houston, it will spell dire consequences for the Spartans.
Phelps apparently is oblivious to the fact Michigan State would like nothing better than to have the 9:57 p.m. game at Reliant Stadium turn into a track meet.
Memphis, the region's top seed and ranked No. 1 in the nation for much of the season, is known for terrific athletes and the ability to run opponents into the floor boards with a withering fast break.
Fifth-seeded MSU, meantime, is stereotyped as a halfcourt team because of the numerous sets and plays coach Tom Izzo employs out of necessity during the Big Ten grind.
However, to suggest the Spartans (27-8) do not want to run with the Tigers is just plain wrong.
"I do see this as an up-and-down game," Izzo said Monday at his regular weekly news conference. "I hope it is an up-and-down game because I think we have enough depth and we can run, and they are going to run.
"Their break is as good as anybody's in the country, so I'd have to agree with Digger on one thing," Izzo added with a laugh. "But only one."
Izzo spent much of last week trying to debunk the perception that the Spartans are ultra-physical and win by putting opposing players in hammer locks until they cry "uncle."
The Spartans out-toughed a hard-nosed Pittsburgh team in Saturday's second-round game in Denver to advance to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in 11 years, but "that was not a slugfest like it was made out to be," Izzo said.
Despite Phelps' assessment, Izzo has never made a secret of the fact he would be happiest if he never had to call a play and every MSU basket came off an easy layup that finished a fast break.
The reality of the situation is that Big Ten opponents know this and take great pains to stop the Spartans' running game.
Some teams do not even contest offensive rebounds because they know Michigan State will dominate the boards and want to use missed shots to fuel its break. It's better to get all five players back on defense where they can clog up the running and passing lanes.
If Memphis (35-1) really wants to frustrate MSU, it will walk the ball up like Iowa did in its 43-36 upset of the Spartans in Iowa City, and run the shot clock down to five seconds to limit the number of scoring opportunities. Michigan State had a season-low 16 field goals in that game.
But that would be totally out of character for the Tigers, and the Spartans are thrilled.
"Of course, why not?" said freshman guard Kalin Lucas, who is at his best when he can use his speed and quickness in the open court. "It's going to be a fast-paced game and very physical."
Lucas scored the game-clinching layup against Pitt on a run-out after senior guard Drew Neitzel rebounded a 3-point miss and passed to him for a one-man break.
Michigan State had just eight fast-break points, but they felt so liberating.
"In the Big Ten, teams try to take our break away," Lucas said. "We were able to run a little bit better (against Pitt), and I think we'll be able to do the same thing in this game and still run our offensive plays."
With All-American freshman guard Derrick Rose running the show, Memphis is averaging just fewer than 80 points per game compared to MSU's 71, so Izzo does not necessarily want to see the game get into the 90s.
"What I hope we do is somewhat stop some of their fast break, or, contain it would be a better word because I don't think you're going to stop it.
"I thought (Phelps) would tell me to zone (defend) them because that's what he usually tells me."
Calipari expects a battle
Phelps isn't the only one who might be surprised to see MSU run wild.
"They (the Spartans) play a grind-it-out game offensively," Tigers coach John Calipari said Monday during a news conference in Memphis. "They're used to an every-possession-matters-type game, because you're not going to have a lot.
"You are not going to have the normal 80-possession games. Those games are going to be down in the 60's because of how they play. They run great stuff, but they really grind it out."
Maybe Calipari thinks he is playing Iowa.
Multi-faceted opponent
On the other hand, Izzo said in the event MSU does stop Memphis' transition game, and its dribble-penetration and kick-out passes, it has to be ready to defend in the halfcourt.
"I think Memphis' offense is unique," Izzo said. "And yet, John is a good coach and as he said to me a couple weeks ago, he's still running more plays now instead of just that offense. I think that's because sometimes too much freedom can hurt you, too.
"You try to find warts you can exploit," Izzo said. "I haven't found a lot yet. But it's only Monday and hopefully by (today) we'll find a few more."
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Next Up : PITT
Watching the PITT / Oral Roberts game. A big note, PITT only had 3 pts five minutes into the game. I hope State runs like they can and their deep bench pulls us into the Sweet Sixteen.
1st Round Against Temple
The Spartans put it on the floor today. I went into San Francisco and sat with my friend Morgan at The Kezar Pub for the game. A great bar - order the Irish Breakfast if you go (no, that isn't three shots of Bushmill's). The biggest thing about today's game? Neitzel only had three points at the half and late into the second and MSU was up by 20 at one point. I think they'll put it ALL together against PITT on Saturday.
2008 BBall Tourney
It's time to shine Spartans. Let's hope our boys in green make it at least to the sweet 16. Go green.
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