MSU v IU : woo...hoo?

I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to this game. I would also be lying if I said MSU football has been watchable.  The defense has been somewhat better than good, but nowhere near great.  The offense has been every bit as bad as people have complained, and then some.

I'm waiting for Gholston and company to have a breakout and truly harass a QB.  I'm waiting to see the corners and safeties frustrate the QB and come up with multiple picks, tips, breakups, and blitzes.  So far the defense has been very good at controlling the scoreboard (most points have come on short field scores because of the offense) but not individually dominant.  Almost a bend don't break mentality.  Everything comes together when you get a push on the defensive line; the QB has less time, he gets worried, he dumps quick passes, the corners and safeties can play more on talent and instinct than discipline.  That hasn't happened much yet.

I'm waiting for the offense to show some life, period.  The problem is the same on both sides of the ball: the lines aren't getting any push.  The offensive line has been abysmal.  So routes aren't crisp, throws aren't always great (or are perfectly placed and timed but too hard for new receivers) and the running game earns every inch.  This was supposed to be the strength of this team between talent and depth.  Neither the talent nor the depth have proven to be quite as good as advertised.

Indiana is an interesting team.  I mean, I'm sure Indiana is an interesting team.  Right?  Let's just agree that something interesting is going on down there in Hoosier land.  Their best (and only) hope this year, QB Tre Roberson, was out early with a season ending injury.  Sort of like the Hoosier's without Jimmy Chitwood.  It isn't pretty.

Things to watch this week: who is the best team in the B10?  Watch Purdue, Ohio State, and Nebraska.  The best team in the B10 is between the winner or OSU/Huskers and Purdue, should they beat mushagain.  And I truly think Purdue will beat mushagain.

Back to the game at hand.  Teams score on Indiana at will.  I mean, they gave up 85 points the last two weeks, including allowing 41 against Ball State.  Make it:

MSU - 38
Hoopsters: 17

MSU v THE Braxton Buckeyes

Gameday is in town and I love the location. Beaumont Tower is a great backdrop, and a perfect distraction when Desmond Pupu is attempting to string together words and sentences into complete thoughts.  Speaking of Dezmund, he just can't help but take a shot at MSU. Either MSU missed on its receivers recruits or it can't develop them. Well, they've dropped some passes. A lot of passes. But I'm pretty sure none of them has enough experience yet -- either by virtue of being behind 4 seniors last year or being redshirt/true freshmen this year.

Face it Desmond.  You weren't posing for the Heisman, you were dancing.  Also, you dropped that pass.

I like MSU's chances to break out a little today on defense. Braxton will get his, and probably equally on the ground and in the air, but the defense will also make some plays.

The difference will be in the return games and breaking up passes at the corners.

Short and sweet today coming off my last debacle of a prediction.  OSU is strong and deep, but not there yet.


MSU - 20
OSU - 17

Eastern Michigan

Yup. Eastern Michigan. Mike Hart. Ron English. EMU 120th against the run out of 120 teams.

MSU coming off a bad performance on offense and a mediocre performance on defense.

LeVeon Bell looking to get on track.  Receivers hoping to, well, receive.  MSU defense with 2 sacks on the season and looking to double that, by halftime.

Not much else to add.

MSU - 45
EMU - 17

UPDATE: Glen Mason? Really? He is basically John L. Smith on happy pills. All the unpredictable nonsense chitter-chatter but all of it happy, all the time.

Gameday!

Welcome back!  And just in time for another installment of Nightgame Notre Dame No Shame in the Game.

And LeVeon is gonna be the night train.  He may start off slow, but by the end of the 3rd quarter, he'll be running downhill.  Bell for 110 yards on 33 carries, with a 4th down conversion.

The big test will be whether the offensive line can give Bell the line of scrimmage.  If he's caught in the backfield as he takes the ball, he isn't quick enough laterally to avoid the tackle.  Although he's strong enough to shed tacklers he has to get his feet going before the second man arrives.  Second, the line has to protect Maxwell long enough to run medium length routes.  Not necessarily deep, but it can't come down to all tight end and running back dumps or heaves for receivers to run under.  Maxwell will need time.

I'm also anxious to see if White (NT) and Allen (LB) can pick up their game.  White takes over in the middle  this season as the dominant force now that Jerel Worthy is in the NFL.  Last season Allen was the sack leader for a very good defense, with 11, but has yet to come up with a tackle for loss this season.  White could help with that by drawing more attention.  Also, there is reason to believe the defense has been pretty vanilla so far, limiting the LB blitzes in early games to keep a few tricks in the bag.

I'm also anxious to see how Rush (DE) and Gholston (DE) can limit Notre Dame's athletic QB Golson.  Although his skill set is similar to that of Russel Wilson (not a marriage of athletic gear families) I think it might actually lead to more sacks if Golson leaves the pocket.

Manti Te'o had a rough week, and it doesn't get any better matching up with Bell and Sims.  MSU players call Spartan Stadium "The Woodshed."  My guess is both QB's get sacked today at least twice.  Because I think Golson will move outside the pocket, that could lead to a defensive back or defensive end picking up a fumble and running it up the sideline.  Whereas Maxwell is much more likely to take his hits in the pocket, in a pile, with any potential fumble recovered by a lineman.  I like MSU to win the turnover battle.

Trick plays?  Sure.  How about "Twitter Giants?"  MSU tweets its way to a win by sending out the All Tweet Team, captained by you're complaining about playing time already? Deanthony "Aretoo" Arnett.  The trick is when they tell Arnett to go in the game for a triple reverse qb throwback ... and then throw the ball to Fowler on a slant whilst Arnett roams around in the backfield staring at his map.

Make it:

MSU - 28
ND    - 17

Mic Check 1-2, 1-2

Its been a while, friends.

I'll be back tomorrow with a football related post.

I'm also working on a blog that explores the AWESOME responses you get when you try to sell things on craigslist.  Pure gold.

LIE-VAH

This blog will be presented, as best I can, in a manner that is honest, but efficient with words, and not crude. In dedication.

Michigan State does not have to win this game. They are in the tournament, as of now. But, don't lose big. Don't lay an egg. Show up and play hard. Keep it to 10 all game.

Lucas will be important. Bigger? The bench. Will Nix move his feet? Will Sherman catch the ball? Will Thornton use his fouls well? Will everyone guard the perimeter? Will every Spartan hit the boards, relentlessly? We will see.

MSU looks FOCUSED early. They look like the have a Swagger. I like it.

TIMEOUT PURDUE!

Lucas doesn't look 100%, but everyone else has a swag, a fire a basketball IQ we haven't seen in a long, long while.

Then Sherman comes in. Then Purdue turns up their hand check 1000%. We shall see.

Since the time they were freshmen, I thought Johnson had, by far, the most upside in this Purdue class. You can't coach length. However, this turnaround he has come up with in his senior year is crazy.

I like the look here. I just described it as MSU Florida 2000. Why? Thornton just got the ball and, with no hesitation, pulled up and hit. That team had no fear and just did what it did. This team looks like it is playing with confidence.

Win or lose, I'm telling you. This team has a different look. The pace is different. Nix is at the line following a nice possession.

21-10 MSU and there is NO DELAY. If there is 1/2 inch of open space, the spartans are shooting. Come out and defend us. If not, hope we miss. We aren't waiting. We are shooting.

And for once, the problem with the whole season? MSU is hitting shots. Hitting a lot of shots.

Kalin Lucas is a straight baller. He just hit a shot clock beater. Love it.

Which brings me to my next point. Draymond Green is a bad, bad free throw shooter. He would average about 2.5 more points per game if he could hit at an average clip.

3 for LUCAS!!

27 -15 MSU!

And now Kebler with a shot. You have got to be a threat if you are on the floor. Nice hit by Kb's.

Jujuan Johnson is a horse. He is absolutely a next level player. Purdue would be down 20 right now w/out him. Who is Moore?

Barlow on Lucas is brilliant by Painter. Lucas isn't mobile. If he were, Lucas would make him look stupid. But, as a much, much bigger defender Barlow is a tough guy to put on Lucas.

And Johnson comes up big again. He is holding this Purdue team in.

AND SO IS KALIN! Lucas is KILLING right now.

I love Keith Appling. He is a baller. He has heart. He has game.

35 -23 MSU.

Timeout.

Well, Haltime and MSU is looking like the team most of us thought we would see all year. Aggressive, strong and .... well ... good.

Part of it is Purdue looking a little slow, as the bye team. But a lot of it is MSU being the aggressor. The Spartans are finding shots early, and without hesitation, pulling the trigger. They are finding gaps and seams and making plays. This team is reacting rather than thinking. For year, upon years, upon years I have said that, to be great, a team must react rather than think. Instinct is the answer.

This team is finally just doing, rather than [over]thinking.

_________________________HALFTIME______________________________

MSU comes out and weathers the Purdue technical call, for now. Ball don't lie.

This is turning around a bit, in terms of fouls, as Purdue gets a few "make-up" calls. Weak, if you will.

And Summers shows his true colors. Running the floor MSU finds Summers on the break in the lane annnnd...it bounces off his ping-pong-paddle hands. I can imagine it would be hard to drive the ball wing ping-pong paddles for hands. Tough to rebound, too.

45 -28 MSU.

Lucas 3 pt play. 48 -30. Ballin.

YES. YES. YES.

Deflection Green [on the shot] and rebound Appling.

Lovc eit.

50 -33 MSU.

Appling at the line. Hit the first. He is money...Count the second.

Johnson gets the ball really, really deep. That is either a bucker or a foul. He gets the foul.

Johnson hits both. Purdue with the full court pressure [hacks defense].

Foul.

MSU keeps afloat.

1 and 1 for Lucas. He gets THE BONUS!

54 -37 MSU.

Appling turns it over but Barlow is a bad, bad shooter. Nice work.

MSU ball 54-37.

Foul MSU, after about 15 Purdue fouls [that weren't called]. 56 - 40 MSU.

After about 25 no call defensive possessions for Purdue we have a timeout. Which is the time I choose to take to pontificate. What if...

Mateen Cleaves was given free rein on defending in the half court.

Travis Walton had free rein in defending men twice his size.

Charlie Bell could defend with free rein in the second half.

No. You didn't hear that.

That is why [*$(&#$]'s don't get "free rein" on defense. So pay attention, my bloody valentine.

I have hated a whole lot of things this year. Coaches. Players. Shots. Shots. Shots.

But this takes the cake. Purdue is in the middle of HACKFEST 2010 but getting called for 1/3 of the fouls they commit.

MSU has to hold on. Justice demands it.

And Delvon Roe draws a foul. What number? His 1st. With 6:39 left. Awesome. Seems totally legit.

60 - 51 MSU after a hoop and a shot. Moore is getting warmed up. But Misses!

Delvon gets both. Money.

Kebler for the layup!

64 - 51 MSU!

Jujuan Johnson has a cramp. Mark it down. MSU wins. Mark it down!

66 -51 is a nice lead, which I would feel not so good about normally. But if Johnson has a cramp...I like it. It is juuuuust enough.

Summers still has some of the softest hands in the b10. So many rebounds/steals/etc end up in D.Summers touches and turnovers. Secure it.

K.Looooooo. Love him. Do it. 70 -53 MSU.

FINAL! MSU Wins and Convincingly!

30 pts for Lucas. Baller. Remember that.

Gameday, Game day

In honor of the recent valentines holiday comes the "I love you but I don't love you, love you" Gameday, Game day preview.

I love MSU basketball, but I don't love, love this team. To be fair, things appear to be getting better, sort of. The effort against OSU was excellent and it would be interesting to see what would have happened if bucksnorts hadn't taken 23 more free throws than MSU and been whistled for more than 12 total fouls (for the game, 12 (twelve)).

What I like: Lucas is looking much more like the Lucas of old, getting into, and out of, the lane and scoring (21+ per game average over the last 6). Green is playing more of what his game should be; spending most of his time midrange where his mismatch skills are most effective. Payne and Nix looked excellent against OSU, and Sherman showed an ability to use positioning. The defense was solid, although heavily penalized. Even Kebler, Thornton and Roe looked good in their limited time. Roe was obviously very limited.

Has anyone seen D. Summers? If you've seen his body you surely haven't seen his heart. It is missing.

This team seems to be on the cusp of figuring things out. The Roe injury does not help for a team just appearing to come together. There is no room for error. This isn't a team solidly in the tournament that can afford to lose a few games. Unfortunately, at 14-11 with 5 games left, MSU likely needs to win 4 to get in or 3 with a run to the Big10 Tournament championship game. Either way, today's home game is a must get.

Which is interesting because Illinois is in a similar situation. Although at 17-9, Illinois is really underachieving for having so much experience and talent. I feel stronger each year in saying that Weber is a good guy and a pretty good recruiter, but not a great coach. That isn't to say Illinois doesn't jump up from time to time to beat teams it shouldn't. Much to the contrary, they do (Purdue) but then lose to crap teams like Illinois Chicago, Indiana and Penn State.

I predict a close game today if Illinois doesn't shoot 70% from the floor. That seems to be as big a factor this year as anything; teams that shoot well despite the defense applied break the will of this team. By halftime this team will check out mentally if their defensive efforts aren't paying off with stops on the defensive end.

McCamey is a tough matchup without Roe. Davis and Tisdale are agile and can step out to the perimeter as well. Tisdale is more up and down this season than I expected for the 8th year senior (and what about lighty for osu? didn't he play with scoonie penn?).

Lucas has to get in the lane on offense and Summers has to, has to show up. He has to make his defender work on both ends. The bigs will have to help because McCamey is big and strong, far too strong for Appling to guard alone. Closing out defensive stands with rebounds is key against a team like this. Nix and Sherman have to take Tisdale out of the game by being legit threats.

It will remain close, but Lucas wins it down the stretch.

MSU -- 69

iLL -- 66

Reality

It is pretty easy to pick apart the things that this team does game in, game out. The question is where to start. The answer: the beginning.

This team has a very low basketball IQ. It isn't just that Lucas and Summers are poor leaders; they clearly aren't overly vocal or respected by their teammates. The real problem is this: even if the two were more comfortable with being vocal they wouldn't have a clue what to say. The evidence is abundant.

1. Lucas can't run a fastbreak and his teammates, Summers included, can't run lanes on the break.

2. Lucas continually takes shots from the perimeter with no one on the block. That is problematic for at least two reasons, first that the ball should go inside out and second there is no chance at a rebound not if, but when the shot is missed.

3. When a team can't hit from the floor what should happen? Get to the line. Lucas doe snot do that and apparently does not discourage his teammates from shooting almost exclusively from the perimeter on every possession. If Mateen Cleaves didn't want you to shoot another 3 he would let you know, and you would not do so.

4. Never once has he grabbed a player by the collar jersey and got in their face. Not every good leader has to do that all the time; any good leader would have found 20-30 situations this season which required exactly that kind of fire.

5. You can't lose to the three worst teams in the B10 if you have leadership. This team did, and it doesn't.

I'm really tired of teams hitting every shot they take. Terrible teams and terrible players keep hitting perfectly defended shots. They also hit the wide open shots. But definitely, if the clock is running down and the play is well defended, they are going to hit a leaning bank shot from 38' with their off hand.

What happens when a jumpshot only player can't shoot? He is worth nothing. Let me introduce you to D. Summers. Brick layer.

And, as always, another classy move by Bo and the fighting ncaa tournament laydowners, by shooting another 3 in a 30 point game at the buzzer. Top knotch, Bo. Try winning a game after the sweet16, ever, and we can talk about how great of a coach you are.

MSU v ummmm

I have a good feeling about tonight. Dismissals, garbage play, two straight losses and too much drama aside, I have a good feeling.

Tonight should be a great evaluation tool and an accurate barometer about the rest of the season. Mostly, how do you respond to serious adversity? Everyone is counting you out and calling you out. How do you answer? One of your friends and teammates was dismissed from the team. How focused are you?

Normally, games against meeesh-again, Northwestern and other "shoot as many 3's as possible and play zone" teams worry me. I don't like that a team can shoot 35 threes against Minny, make 8, and look terrible. Then, within a matter of days, could shoot 35 threes again and get lucky, hitting 15, and hang around in a game they have no business winning. Teams do that to MSU more than anyone. Teams shoot the lights out, over defenders, from halfcourt with the shotclock running out against MSU. For some reason that doesn't bother me tonight.

I like MSU to hit 3's, FINALLY get out on the break, and close the game out at the free throw line. I like Nix to play and play well. I like Green to talk plenty of trash and come up with 10 rebounds. I like Roe to score on the inside, perhaps getting that double double he's been working for. Appling will have a tough and long night. I still like him to play beyond his freshman status and frustrate Hardaway and Morris. I like Sherman to have a big play or two, on both offense AND defense.

Make it:

MSU - 70

umm - 61

MSU poodoo In Game

I am the first person to lay blame on MSU players. I think that is pretty clear.

Where I have to draw the line is right about -- there. Lucas cannot get a call this year. He just can't. Tonight's game against Purdue is a perfect example. After about 4 non calls for Lucas, and, in fact, a terrible charge call against him, EtWuw'an Moore gets his 4th trip to the line for questionable calls. I mean really, if I'm Izzo, I'm pissed. If I'm me I'm pissed. I'm me, I'm pissed.

This is seriously garbage homer work by the refs. The Green charge is the worst call I've seen this year. Watch it again. And again. It gets worse every time.

Lucas just stole the ball and ran the floor. There was a goal tend. If that went the other way it would have been a goal tend and a foul. Oh, also, if it went the other way it would have included a lion tamer, bearded lady and meadowlark lemon. That's right, the circus and Globetrotters combined couldn't pull this crap off.

Long Cold Winter for Summers

It isn't really Durrell's fault. What other teams have figured out, and what MSU has failed to compensate for, are Summer's weaknesses.

He can't put the ball on the floor against smaller defenders.

He can't shoot coming off screens.

He can't finish down low with consistency.

He is a spot up, when already squared up, jump shooter.

How do you make that work? Well, last year, specifically in the NCAA tournament, he got no respect. Leave him open and he will hit. Let him get hot and he doesn't need much space. That isn't the case this year. He is on the scouting report. There is a star next to his name. He draws a better than average defender night in, night out.

What next? Well, you get him transition buckets. You get him early offense buckets. You run him off screens. You make the defender cheat over the top and lob the ball backdoor for easy dunks, Mo Pete style. You get the ball inside to make the zone collapse or the man defense double down, then kick back out.

So far this season MSU's little mistakes have snowballed and, more than any other player, have really hurt Summers.

The fast break is not only poor, it is terrible. There is none. When there are numbers MSU finds ways to run it wrong, letting one defender guard 2 (or 3!) people at once, or seeing players over-commit and end up too far under the basket. This doesn't help Summers, who should be excellent on the break.

In fact, the fast break is so poor that the secondary break is often nonexistent. People are so far out of position and things get so muddled up that it takes 10 seconds to get into a set. That doesn't work.

That leaves halfcourt sets to get Summers in the offensive flow. Given his limitations (not great off screens, can't create his own shot), you almost have to play inside out. However, against the zone (and most all the time) MSU has avoided the post. They have also avoided dribble penetration by the guards. That means passing the ball around the perimeter for 20 seconds then running a high screen and roll. That high screen and roll is seriously 60% of the offense.

Against a zone or tight man-to-man you have to penetrate, either off the dribble (dangerous but bigger potential reward) or off the pass (usually with a versatile big man at the high post). Drive, or pass, then kick. That is Summers' recipe for success. Either that or learn to come off screens harder and shoot off the swivel, rather than having to be entirely squared up while catching the pass.

MSU v NW liveblog

Ok, so its not live-live, but I'll be reacting in almost-real-time, with a slight delay to filter.

NU shoots too many 3's and plays a little too much zone for me to feel comfortable with this win. Shurna should be in better shape for this one, too. BUT...Summers will be looking to do something today, as will Lucas and Lucious. I would expect NU to take it at Appling given all the credit that was heaped on him after the last meeting. It could be a long day for Keith.

I like MSU by 10 at home.

Here. We. Go.

20:00 -- 16:30 Roe is playing great on ball defense. Shurna has been blocked or redirected his shot 3 times in the first 3 minutes. Summers also looks good on defensive switches. MSU still can't run a fastbreak. Payne is looking ACTIVE. Thompson carries the ball badly, and often. It never gets called.

16:30 -- 14:45 Early shots aren't falling for either team, with MSU getting some good looks but missing and NU not really getting any clean shots off. Still 4-0 at the first tv timeout, but don't expect Lucious and Summers to keep missing all day. Payne doesn't have the weight yet to bang, but is right in the mix on rebounds and running the floor really well. Again, at least 2 times so far this game MSU fails to execute on a fastbreak.

14:45 -- 12:30 Bad call on that play as the ball went off a NU players foot under the MSU basket, but after some indecision ball out to NU. Nix with a terrible shot underneath after a good pass from Lucious. Rather than bring it down and go up clean Nix tried a goofy lob-layup. This zone is really making MSU work the shotclock. Lucious finally penetrates and misses, Nix again tries a tip rather than rebounding and going up clean. Things are getting a little sloppy against the zone.

12:30 -- 11:00 NU fouls Appling for a steal, runs out on the break, travels and misses the layup but goaltends to make it a 1 point game. On the other end Summers drives and is whistled for a charge. Great sequence for refs everywhere.

11:00 -- 8:30 Roe is like a blanket on defense, but NU takes the lead on a double back cut. Meanshile MSU has 4 wanna be guards standing around the perimeter ready to fire 3's with only Roe on the block to rebound. It doesn't work if you miss. On the defensive end back to back NU layups for Draymond's man. Lucas throws a lob to Summers that lands in the 14th row. Great idea.

8:30 -- 5:30 MSU looks awful on offense. Stand around the 3 point line and fire 3's is not an offense.* Drive on these guards (appling, lucas, lucious) and get the ball inside where you can abuse this team. The current zone offense is a joke. On defense, guard the shooters and don't bother helping on drives. Make free throws.

5:30 -- 3:45 Payne and Sherman have twice left men alone under the basket on switches (see: no switch). Frank Noname is fouled but makes both free throws. Lucas goes to the other end and plays like an MSU senior** leaving his feet, throwing a pass to no one, and then committing an immediate foul.

3:45 -- :50 NU is up by 7 and turns it over AGAIN against the zone. For the 2000th consecutive season MSU can't do anything against a zone. Roe misses another layup, which I am starting to think is his intention. TERRIBLE CALL ON THORNTON when NU Nobody Norton drops 3 straight elbows but Thornton gets the call. Horrible. After review the refs add an intentional on Nuncio Nothing.

Timeout MSU with 10 seconds. I call a double screen for summers.

After a foul and MSU inbound MSU runs...the double screen for summers. Summers jumps in the air with nothing to do and throws the ball to no one. Looks like the MSU offense overall, with 18 points at the half. One -- Eight. (18)

HALF (mercifully)

Summers, to my knowledge, hasn't scored. He is MIA. If you see him, please return him to the Breslin Student Events Center. Lucas is playing really stupid. The offense is 1 and done; there is no offensive rebounding presence. If you hold a team to 23 in the half you should be up 10-15 points. Instead, MSU played a game of "anything you can screw up we can screw up worse" and put up 18 points. Appling has 1/3 of that on 2 shots. This team is an offensive joke as it 1. can't run a fast break, and 2. can't find any offense against a zone. So, if you play MSU this year and have ever even heard of the work zone, just spring back on defense and fall in to a zone. That's it. You have at least a 50:50 chance of winning. Actually, make that 60:40 if you can hit free throws, because MSU can't do that either.

Second half, IPA in hand, here we go.

20:00 -- 17:30 Make Lucas, miss NU, foul NU, misshandled pass Green, foul Lucas.. It's lamost a palindrome. Green gets lazy on defense and gives up a traditional 3 point play. Green makes up for it on the other end with a rebound and put back. Then, Green baits Mirkovich into his 3rd foul on the other end. Good stretch for Green.

17:30 -- 15:30 Roe forces a turnover on Shurna who can't shake Roe with his bad ankle. FINALLY! A Summers sighting. Tie game! And another NU turnover as a secondary ball handler steps out of bounds. Where is Crawford today? Lucious is out of control and not really contributing positively at all today. Thompson goes by Lucious for a layup and follows it with a pass to the 43rd row (rather than Roe) on the other end. I'm wondering why Lucious is still on the floor. Lucas hits 2 free throws to tie it up 28 all.

15:30 -- 12:40 Roe makes 1 of 2 from the line to take a 1 pt lead. MSU decided to execute a 4-2 advantage fast break. You guessed it, no points and now we are going the other way. This is THE worst executing fast break team in the history of basketball. Its really not even close.

12:40 -- 8:30 Crawford shows up on cue to abuse Thornton. Lucious shows up on cue to throw a terrible lob to...someone...I guess Payne. Crawford is hitting now. Awesome. Back to back plays by Nix and Roe tie it back up. By the way, that is the Roe Izzo expected when he turned down N. Carolina for MSU. LUCAS for 3! This is more like it. Then Thompson hits a long, tough, guarded 3.

This used to look like a good team that showed minutes of sloppiness and stupidity. Now it is a stupid sloppy team that shows minutes of good play from time to time. This team is, honestly, bad.

Nix is a tough matchup 6+ feet from the basket for big men because he can really move his feet. However, inside he really gets jammed up in tight space. MSU will be shooting from here on out, as NU is over the foul limit. You decide if that is good or bad.

8:30 -- 6:00 Crawford is coming alive and really hurting Appling. But LUCAS answers with what we've seen in the past, a drive and finish. It could be important down the stretch that both Summers and Lucas have 3 fouls already, with 8+ minutes to go. Right on command, as I yell at Green "he can't guard you -- go by him!" Green drives and is fouled. He hits both free throws to tie the game again, this time at 44.

Cobb hits a 3 for NU. If you ask "Cobb who?" I'll answer: Carl Cobb. That's my guess at least. It could be Curtis or Curtain for all I know.

Green picks up his 4th foul. That is big. That means Sherman and Nix are going to have to produce on both ends, mostly not giving up easy shots and picking up some rebounds to close out defensive possessions.

6:00 -- 3:30 FINALLY! A great entry pass to Nix from Lucious. Nix even cooperates and catches the pass and makes the shot. Then Nix loses his man, again, on defense. Roe reverts to Roe circa 2 weeks ago by going over the back on a rebound he had no chance at getting. Shurna has one of the ugliest shots in the history of shots. Having to watch it from the free throw line, with no other movement or noise, is disgusting. Mateen Cleaves' jumpshot is museum worthy art in comparison.

3:30 -- 1:40 Roe has really found his place on defense. He just forced a shot clock violation on a big game, a serious change of pace from Shurna. Appling hits a 3 and then gets picked off giving Crawford another layup. Miss by Lucas, BIG rebound by Roe, timeout Izzo.

1:40 -- :25 BAD possession by MSU ending in a BAD shot by Appling. Lucas ends up on Crawford, who again posts up the smaller MSU guard, travels (no call) and banks a fall away. 3 point lead NU. MSU has no offense against this zone. Green isolates out of the timeout and drives, drawing the foul. He has to hit both. 1 up 1 down. The 2nd is good.

:25 -- NU is up 3 w/ Green at the line. It is about stops and scoring quickly. Playing excellent defense all day Roe intentionally fouls, committing only his 2nd of the day. 1 make, 1 miss, rebound MSU! Green gets his own rebound and heads back to the line. 1st one...makes! 11 seconds and we ARE TIED!

TRAVEL NU! MSU ball with 2.7 seconds to go and the whole floor to cover. Just don't throw it away and don't commit an offensive foul. Andddd...missed 3. Overtime.

OT

Green continues to hit free throws. Crawford is crushing MSU right now, and really, is NU's best player. Crawford hit a long 3 off a high screen. Great challenge by Roe but Shurna hits again. NU by 3. Which also means a zone by NU on the other end. MSU misses again.

ROE AGAIN causes a travel in the post. He is so locked in on defense. Appling for 3! Where is summers? Doesn't matter. Appling with 17 pts and a great box out on the other end leading to a Crawford foul. He's got a real chance to be special given his size. MSU often gets good but undersized guards (Lucas, Cleaves, Neitzel) but Appling is longer. He can, with a little more weight, play at the next level as a scoring point guard.

Up 2 and with the ball, Izzo wants a timeout. I don't blame him. You have to get something on this possession. I would go inside and force the defense to collapse, then kick back out. Instead Lucas throws up an early 3. NU rebound.

ROE FORCES ANOTHER AIR BALL! Unreal. Shurna couldn't find an inch of daylight. Air ball, shot clock violation, MSU ball with 10 seconds to go. Just control the ball and hit free throws.

Lucious got the ball and was fouled almost immediately. Misses the 1st. Hits the 2nd. 8 seconds to go. Draymond steps out on the perimeter, pokes at the ball and fouls out of the game. Bad foul by the wrong guy.

Nix rebounds the NU miss and is fouled immediately. He hits a free throw that runs through the rafters, scrapes the banners, and goes in. He misses the 2nd. You decide if it was on purpose.

MSU wins by 4, in OT, and looks terrible for 90% of the game. Thank the IPA for the second half resurgence. As always, the IPA fund is taking donations.

* Unless you are um.

** Dictionary definition of regress.

COME TA PENN STAAATE!

Basketball preview, Joe Pa edition.

Michigan State travels to Penn State today to play Talor Battle and the Nittany Talor Battles. The only catch is, this season, he has more of a supporting cast. Despite the team actually being much better on paper this year than last, PSU has been mosty abysmal. Although they've lost to some pretty good teams (@Maryland, @ Va Tech, @ Miss, Home to Purdue) you can't lose to Maine at home by 10. The same Maine that has lost to Hartford (the insurance company?) Columbia, Delaware State, Brown and Quinnipiac. That Maine.

The Lions are 8-6 (1-2) and rank, according to ESPN, 239th in points per game, 246th in rebounds per game, 240th in assists per game and 228th in field goal percentage.

Battle is going to shoot, early and often, from near and far. Frazier is averaging about 5 assists per game to only 2 turnovers. Brooks is solid and is probably one of the more versatile players in the conference.

PSU's biggest problem is that Battle is averaging almost 37 minutes per game and Brooks is averaging almost 32. This early in the season you can get away with that. Unfortunately, for them, to burn up your two best players early you would hope to have a decent record. This team had hopes of making the NCAA tournament. I don't see how that happens w/out winning the B10 tournament.

Battle doesn't play a lot of defense (1.6 fouls per game). I think the key to this game is forcing him to play on both ends. MSU got Brooks in foul trouble last February and took him almost entirely out of the game. Beyond Battle and Brooks, PSU big man Jones (6'10" 245lbs) is solid but isn't a real scoring threat outside of 5'. He hasn't attempted a 3 this season and shoots 48% from the charity stripe. He will have a long day with the rotation of Sherman, Nix, Payne and help from Green/Roe. Payne is likely too thin to bang with him, but could really take advantage on the offensive end with far superior athleticism and speed. Nix will see minutes today, lots of minutes.

The real key for PSU could be Jackson (6'7" 210lbs) because of his size. This is the guy Raymar Morgan or Chris Allen would have been guarding. Roe just isn't there yet on perimeter defense and Jackson fits the mold of that tweener size guy that gives MSU fits. He isn't afraid to take a 3 (took 6 against Furman*) and he hits at a decent enough rate that you have to respect it. That worries me. Roe is at his worst on the perimeter, jumping in to jump shooters on pump fakes, arriving too late to challenge and playing matador on a pump fake and drive.

I don't like playing teams like PSU. They have nothing to lose, except a bunch more games, and everything to gain. This is a resume builder for a desperate, very experienced and very undisciplined team. PSU starts and gets significant minutes from 4 seniors. Despite their experience, they take bad shots. They shoot and hit garbage. They play sloppy defense and make poor decisions. They are, somehow, still cocky.

Battle is a tough guy to guard and this is the sort of yawner that MSU typically phones in. I hope Izzo showed them the tape of last year's game that was way too close. I hope Draymond and Payne decide they want to pad the stats today, packing away a few points for lean times (Purdue, Wisconsin). I hope Appling doesn't get hit with cheap fouls (which Battle always draws). I hope Summers doesn't let Brooks get in his head, and Roe and Green play real defense.

Before a prediction, and while I'm talking about him, I have to discuss Green. He is great and I love him for all the reasons everyone else does. He is an enigma. He is smart. He can be a coach on the floor. He is tough to guard. He moves very, very well for his size.

That said, why does everyone ignore his faults? He is constantly out of position on defense. He has the second most turnovers on the team; 2 less than Lucas and 4 more than Lucious. He is the co-captain of the "I haven't considered what you are going to do with this pass once you get it, but It looks tough, so I'm going to try to make it" club. He is reading his own press. He has become a caricature of himself, the guy that makes the unusual play is looking for the most difficult play on the floor to keep that image. He swings for the fences rather than taking the double or triple. Yes, double or triple. He doesn't need to settle for singles because he is that good. But he can't look to make an ESPN highlight reel every time he touches it either. The highlight reel Green should aspire to is in film sessions, for doing the things that Izzo appreciates. Rebound, outlet, defend, be tenacious, be tough, finish. Finish shots, finish possessions and finish games.

The club I mentioned above meets regularly. The motto? I think I saw some daylight between defenders, 25' up the floor, with a teammate on the other end. Better yet? That teammate looks to be Shermanesque (see: ping pong paddles where hands should be) and by the time the pass gets in his area it will be shin high and he'll be in the locker room. Perfect. I think I'll try to make that pass. The result? Two options: 1. it gets intercepted by one of the 3 defenders likely in the area, or 2. the teammate catches the ball and proceeds to step on the endline, charge or travel. It is almost like Lucious and Green think getting the pass there is worth 2 points and they never consider putting their teammates in a position to, you know, actually do something with the ball once they [maybe] catch it. I liken it to throwing a short crossing route to your slot receiver (5'11" 165 lbs) and throwing it 3 feet over his head. You are not thinking about the position you are putting him, and his ribs, in.

Make today closer than it looks on paper:

MSU -- 70

PSU --- 66

*Who** plays Furman, Lehigh, St Joseph, Fairfield***, Central Connecticut, Mt St Mary's, Columbia, Brown, Quinnipiac and Maine? Who plays those teams and has an 8-6 record??

**The answer is Penn State and, usually, Syracuse.

***Fairfield Inn? What, did you post up Rosy and the rest of the cleaning staff?

Capital One Bowl

Alabama is a 10 point favorite, and has been ever since the matchup was announced. It is strange for a spread to stay constant for that long. Either money isn't moving or the odds makers are very, very confident. I would guess both.

Think about it; both teams are rather hard to figure. Alabama lost 3 games this season, which makes the matchup against an 11-1 team look lopsided. But, those losses came to S.Carolina, LSU and Auburn (the LSU and Auburn losses by a combined 4 points). Ingram didn't play or was limited for half the season. McElroy was limited or hurt in a number of games, including the 1 point loss to Auburn. So, not too shabby.

MSU won a lot of close games, with trick plays and late comebacks, but lost big on the road to Iowa. Iowa is obviously a lot better than their final record looked and MSU was playing through a lot of unknown (but apparent) injuries on both sides of the ball. So...what does anyone really know about either team?

MSU can win this game. They don't need trick plays, or misdirection or big breaks. The game MSU can win is boring and technically beautiful. It comes down to 3 basics: Don't beat yourself (penalties, drops, fumbles), good play calling, and execution. Sounds obvious, but I really think MSU's best chance to win is just playing smart.

The first is one obvious: penalties kill your own drives, extend the opponent's drives, and negate special teams plays. In a game of inches you have to have positives on every possession. That means scoring, obviously, but it can also be as simple as holding the ball as long as possible and changing field possession on EVERY possession. Keep the other teams offense off the field and, if you have to give it back without scoring, pin them deep.

The second is less obvious, and perhaps the most important. Don't out think yourself and don't be predictable. Too often MSU play calling is so obvious I can tell you what the play will be before the snap. That can workout against a team of lesser talent; here's what I'm planning to do now try to stop me. However, 'Bama is not that kind of opponent. In fact, Alabama is bigger and stronger than MSU where it matters. To negate that speed and size playing calling must be nearly perfect. And I don't mean hitting homeruns. I mean calling the play that gets you 5 yards instead of losing 3. I mean the play that allows you to be in a 3rd and short rather than 3rd and 8+. It means having a shot to make a field goal on 4th down rather than being 4-6 yards out of range based on your 1st, 2nd and 3rd down choices. That will be the difference between MSU

winning and losing. And, again, because it is a game of inches, if play calling goes wrong (and Cousins is continually in 3rd and 11) things could go very bad, very quickly.

The third is pretty obvious. Even if the play calling is perfect players have to execute. Blocking has to be perfect, hand offs have to be clean. Shots down field, when they come, have to lead player that find space rather than hanging. Audibles have to be perfect. Kick coverage and punting have to be smart.

If those things come together MSU can win this game. Alabama can run the ball with 2 great, fast and physical backs. Unfortunately, once you sneak up to support the run game Julio Jones is a legit NFL receiver (think Anquan Boldin). McElroy can make the throws. This team can play a very balanced game and also just flat out beat you up for 4 yards a carry up the middle. That sounds scary until you realize MSU strength is linebacking and offensive line. MSU's strength might not be good enough to match up with 'Bama, but I would rather take my chances strength to strength. The secondary still isn't very smart.

Keshawn Martin needs to touch the ball often in space. Kick and punt returns, screens, end arounds, and perhaps from the backfield. He (and maybe fowler) are the only two real 1:1 match-ups MSU can exploit. I also like Baker and Bell at the second level. Look for one big run from Bell.

My guess:

MSU -- 34

Ala -- 31

Economic Rant

I don't know that I have ever agreed more with something I've heard on CNBC (Strategy Sessions) today than this. The guest was David Stockman. He was the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for Reagan (1981-1985) and wrote the first edition of the modern tax code. Obviously it is almost unrecognizable now. Off topic. The point is, our expectations are just plain wrong. When will Obama fix the jobs problem? When will Republicans fix the jobs problem?

They won't. And sadly, no one will.

The problem is our expectations are based on 2003-2007. Why we expect that level of employment, and compensation, when the whole premise was false I will never figure out. Probably the same reason people are scammed by emails offering free money and prizes for something you never entered to win or from someone you've never heard of. Short term gain with little to no work (day trading based on speed rather than fundamentals). Corporate shareholders caring only about the bottom line (quarterly reports and profits above all else, employees and corporate responsibility be damned). Americans are dumb. And they want everything quick and painless. That ain't gonna happen.

No money down, no interest ballooning adjustable rate mortgages...with no documents ("how much do you make?" ---- "Uh, $80,000...yeah $80,000." --- "Ok, sign here!") for homes that are waaay too big, or second (or third) homes leveraged to the hilt and based on overtime from uaw jobs that were obviously paying unsupportable wages.

Its grim. But its true. We are, again, leveraging things back up. Printing money. Unwilling to let these "Bush tax cuts" expire. How are we going to pay for that? What sense does that make? No one wants to pay the price, sacrifice or do the right thing. The markets are, as Mr. Stockman says "daytrader" driven. They fluctuate based on daily moves by government and external influences, not real indicators any competent investor (Buffett anyone?) would consider. Listen to this guy, even if you find him (and the topics) boring.

We have to support the middle class with manufacturing jobs and highly technical (and ever changing and willing to look ahead) industrial and R&D. Until we do that, by investing in universities like MSU, Texas A&M and PSU as well as NASA and providing incentives to actual productivity we are moving closer to catastrophe again.

There are no moral victories

There are wins and losses. This was a loss.

The sad thing is this very easily could have been an 8-10 point MSU win. No really. Hit some free throws, stop the careless turnovers (over and back with no pressure?!) and don't play Nix. Duke scored about 10 points off Nix alone, and missed scoring about 10 more (he cannot seem to get back to his man on high screens, Duke failed to find wide open players multiple times).

There were a couple of subtle, but VERY important* differences in this game. First, Lucious -- for the most part -- slowed his brain down a little. He only picked up his dribble once that I remember. He only forced a couple of passes to covered players. He finished VERY strong. Korie did all that as the primary ball handler; I would guess K.Lucious played the point at a 2:1 ratio to Lucas.

Second, and finally, this team decided to play to their strength. In the past, pressure defense against the ball handler (and wings trying to run half court sets) was a disaster. Last night Tom Izzo either turned his head or, more likely, gave an explicit green light to make overplaying defenders pay the price. Repeatedly Lucas, Green and most notably Lucious isolated and blew by their defender. I would venture it lead to 15-20 of MSU points. It also backed the defense off some and lead to dukie defensive breakdowns and, ultimately, clean msu looks for long jumpshots.

This is big. This is really big. It adds a wrinkle to the MSU offense that will keep man to man teams at bay (and should open up the half court sets more), and also plays to the MSU strengths with mismatches for Green and Lucas. Zones are a little bit different, but again, you attack a zone at seams by driving and finishing or kicking. Driving, under control and strong, is a good thing to see.

Nix is a disaster. I don't even know where to start. Payne looks like a newborn giraffe with the ball in the open floor. I'm a little concerned about Lucas' new "euro-step" layup, aka traveling. So far it has worked. I just hope it doesn't finally get called at a big moment this season.

I agree with J.Rexrode (LSJ) that Appling could be the difference should these teams meet again this year. He is very, very talented and can also put the ball on the floor. Sherman** was solid most of the game. Roe was mostly a non factor on offense but, along with Thornton, got screwed out of a few free throws on no calls. Roe played well enough and defended well. As a whole the team rebounded great. Duke was, for the most part, one and done. The problems came when Duke's "one" was a made shot, especially the 3's halfway through the second half.

All in all, I wasn't upset. Although it was sloppy and there were still far too many turnovers, when I would look down at the score, we were usually within 4 points. I can't be too upset with that against the supposed "head and shoulders" #1 team in the country at home.

* Important in my mind, which means it is likely not important.
** Pretty solid finishes around the rim. Missed a dime from Green late. Still no break on those hands. He can't catch a pass. Almost all his points came off the bounce, not the pass.

MSU pulls one out

Well, despite about 35 minutes of terribly sloppy and uninspired play (with the exception of about 3 guys) the Spartans pulled one out. UConn did MSU a favor by knocking off Kentucky (good luck doing that 6-8 weeks from now!) and making the loss a good loss, to the extent that is possible. Maybe I should just call it a loss rather than a bad loss.

Summers did what he needed to do, hit a jump shot. Lucious finished very strong. I like the Lucious that pulls long 3's and is willing to abort the play to go past a guy that is overplaying. Too often, for as long as I can remember at MSU, teams that extended the defense pretty much ended the game. Because the team was so set (or drilled) on running the plays no matter the situation, we would end up running our offense from just inside half court and make dangerous lateral passes because, hey, that is the guy that is supposed to get the ball and that is [roughly] where he is supposed to get it. Forget common sense. Executing the play is more important than scoring. Lucious provides the quickness and ball handling to take advantage of those situations. The next step is: don't make a hero pass or over-penetrate once you get by your defender.

Sherman had a pretty good game, but too often, "same" still limited his rebounding. That is, teammates would be the only competition for a loose ball or rebound, and yet, neither would end up with it because of bad timing and lacking communication. You can't get a stop on defense and knock a rebound loose from a teammate grasp, only to have the other team get another possession. One and done.

Roe had a terrible stat line with no points and 4 rebounds. Setting aside his apparent inability to do anything but go over the back (just watch a game, for every over the back call he gets they let 3 go) Roe didn't get many opportunities inside. The only player we give the ball to on the block is Green. Sherman got 2 looks in the second half, scored on both, and never got another. That is partially because of the extended defense and partially because the plays appear to be run primarily for guards, or at least the primary reads. I cut Roe a break on the bad stats. Maybe that is Nix's real grudge; I play 5 minutes a game, which is bad enough, but I get 2 touches --- if I get 2 rebounds. MSU is at its best getting inside, getting to the line and causing foul problems, kicking inside out, and getting 2nd chance points in the lane. There have been too many long jump shots in this young season.

All things considered, so long as Lucas gets healthy and Summers plays within himself, this team still has all the ability in the world and should be playing for a long, long time.

MSU basketball @ Maui

Too many problems.

Garrick Sherman has terrible hands. Think of it like a receiver in football; if you get your hands on it you should catch it. Sherman gets his hands on rebounds and loses them. Soft.

Summers has a very low basketball IQ. He is gifted, no doubt, but doesn't not know what to do with the ball. He is out of position. He does not anticipate. He takes bad shots and does basic things wrong, like stepping out of bounds. What is good for Summers is not good for MSU, and vice versa. That is, Summers is a spot up jump shooter, at best. He cannot and should not put it on the floor. However, everyone in the NBA can shoot. He knows that. He needs to be able to score off the bounce to play at the next level. He can't dribble and gets nervous with the ball in 1 on 1 situations. I liken it to someone that can't handle dead air. The person that says something, anything, rather than sit in silence. You can watch the discomfort as they scramble for a topic and then blurt out anything to end the deafening silence. That is Summers with the ball. Uncomfortable, forcing something, anything. Usually turning it over.

Lucious is a nightmare as a point guard. He also is lacking in basketball IQ, however, full of confidence. That means 100 mph in the wrong direction. Terrible passes, charges, early 3's. That is Korie's game. He is a tough matchup, no doubt, but better as a spark plug than an everyday playmaker.

Lucas, Appling and Green are the only players worth a healthy #2 right now.

The whole team is getting out rebounded and shooting free throws like the school for the blind after a trip to Rick's American Cafe.

But then...there are bursts. There are 2,3 and 4 minute spans where they show that potential and just DOMINATE. And then for 37 minutes they suck, badly.

Midterm Election Financing Tidbit

"It has always been known that the Chamber [of Commerce] was fighting [the health care] plan tooth and nail, but nobody knew just how aggressively until this week, when Bloomberg reported that health insurers gave the Chamber $86.2 million to battle the plan -- a staggering amount."

Well, that seems legit.

24 Hours of Basketball: MSU v S.Carolina

I haven't looked at the SoCar (same attitude as SoCal, but different) roster yet, but here is my guess: no less than 5 guys between 6'5" and 6'8". Now, you might say, "well yeah!" However, my guess is each one of them is between 190 and 210 lbs. In short, wirey. I expect they will look and play much like the Eastern Michigan player than dropped 33 on MSU last week. That, I'm afraid, could spell trouble.

As I said before, MSU will have trouble guarding the 'tweeners this year. Add in the fact that this team has nothing to lose, coming in unranked and unknown, and considering they will probably shoot at least 40% of their shots from beyond the arc...I just don't like it.

I haven't seen the roster. I'm going to take a quick peak, find some offensive stats from their first game, and come right back.

6'6" 210lb Jr, 6'9" 202lb Fr, 6'9" 210lb Sr, 6'8" 190lb Fr and a few more on the edges of the perameters. Not good. Now for the offense.

Of 66 attempts 16 were from 3. That seems low, but is misleading, since the game was dominated on the interior. In short, there was no need.

I still like MSU, but in a game that gets closer than it should.

Make it:

MSU - 73

SC - 59