2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

[pietasterp]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

Yawn, more MSU talk.

Remember when I said in the other thread that you guys had a team brewing in Lincoln? I wish I was wrong about that...

What did we ever do to Walter Pitchford to make him hate us so much? He did us dirty in the Breslin...

[redsrule]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

OK, so in my opinion, ALL pre-season rankings are complete and total BS, in any sport. But I respectfully disagree that the team was overrated; I think full-strength MSU has a legitimate claim at #1, and while healthy, I think they proved it by not losing. Even the UNC loss didn't necessarily sway my opinion, because UNC is just completely incomprehensible this year (they're the Miami Heat against a top-5 team, then the Charlotte Bobcats against anyone else?). Yeah, Randle ate us up in the 2nd half of that game, but the bottom line is that we won.
Operative word being "if". With 2 weeks or so left in the season, I think it's increasingly unlikely that we will ever be 100%. Even if guys can come back and play, being on the court and being where we need to be as individuals and a unit are 2 different things (see: Keith Appling). My opinion is that the team we have right now is the team we'll have for the tourney, and that team just isn't good enough. I'd be really happy to be wrong, though.

I agree about the first part. Preseason rankings don't mean anything. UNC came into East Lansing and won by 15 though. That should not happen, regardless.
SpartyParty was acting like Michigan State is by far the #1 team in the country when they were healthy. That is what I was calling overrated.

I also agree with this. Everywhere you have seen (on twitter at least) when this Michigan State team gets healthy/if they were healthy they wouldn't have lost X game or will be final four contenders.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

I do agree with a lot of what you're saying. I don't agree on how Michigan has proved they are better. Yes they did beat MSU twice, one by freethrows. Michigan is the type of team that can get streaky or just fall flat hard. I think they're a bit one sided this year, unlike last year. They have to rely on Stauskas and if he's off the whole team is off. Levert I believe hasn't matured enough to where he can be the go to guy when Stauskas is shooting cold. Robinson is very inconsistent. Morgan really is only out there for easy rebounds, he can't do much else. (that's where McGary is a big loss). Now I'm waiting to hear from Michigan fans saying "you're a state fan, you have no room to talk about Michigan and know nothing about Michigan." I have watched just as many Michigan games this year as MSU games. Just as every MSU fan does, I want Michigan to lose. So I watch their games.

If you watch as many Michigan games as you claim, then we come to different conclusions about LeVert not maturing enough or being able to step up. All he's done in the past 8 games is average over 17 points - scoring at least 12 in 7 of them. This is in the toughest stretch of their conference schedule. What exactly does he have to do to show you he's consistently improved? Average 10 boards too? He has averaged 7 of those over that stretch, by the way.

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

"18-1 when 96% Healthy" "One Game by FreeThrows"

are the things they got me lol.


Okay please tell me how many starters you were missing last game against Michigan? Also did you watch that 1st Game? That was probably the worst officated B1G game this season lol.

Also you are so wrong on LeVert. He's become an excellent 2 Way player.

[pietasterp]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

Okay please tell me how many starters you were missing last game against Michigan? Also did you watch that 1st Game? That was probably the worst officated B1G game this season lol.

Techincally, 1 guy was out (Dawson). But Appling is like 20% at best now, and didn't play most of the game, so closer to 2. But like I said, that doesn't matter, because the team we put on the floor is the team.

Also you are so wrong on LeVert. He's become an excellent 2 Way player.

No argument here. LeVert is a straight-up baller.

[SpartyParty11]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

Techincally, 1 guy was out (Dawson). But Appling is like 20% at best now, and didn't play most of the game, so closer to 2. But like I said, that doesn't matter, because the team we put on the floor is the team.

No argument here. LeVert is a straight-up baller.

The question is how can a great team all of a sudden go to an average team? I still believe Izzo will get them to the Final Four. It's very big that they get a week off to get Dawson back into shape. Appling did take the band off of his wrist so that's a plus, even if it is a small one. Payne is slowly getting better. This team has amazing talent but I think they're getting ahead of themselves. Appling trying to do too much, Harris trying to impress the scouts which is actually hurting his stock. Izzo has also had 16 different lineups, I think that's the most in college basketball.

LeVert is doing what he's supposed to do every game. But he didn't play that much in the tournament. Will he choke under pressure? Because if Stauskas and LeVert has 1 off game, they're done. They can't rely on anyone else. Morgan? Nope. Horford? Nope. Michigan lives and dies by the 3. They have been getting out rebounded in many games. We'll see though. I believe in the Spartans. I would be worried if I were a Wolverine fan though.

[justblaze09]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

They only shot 3% better than State from 3 in the last game.

You're grasping for straws at this point.

[SpartyParty11]

Re: 2/17-2/23 Game Thread Discussion

They only shot 3% better than State from 3 in the last game.

You're grasping for straws at this point.

I'm not talking about just the MSU game, I'm talking overall this season. Even the first game of the series, Michigan shot 19 threes and made 11 of them. But I'll stop with this topic. Everyone start clapping and cheering, SpartyParty11 just decided to wave the white flag