Kolek planning to go pro
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couch/2023/03/12/michigan-state-basketball-ncaa-tournaemnt-bracket-usc-marquette-columbus-3-quick-takes/70000021007/MU is good, but the weakest of the #2's, so Sparty could have done a lot worse. So, if MSU gets past USC, which is far from certain......My take on Sparty. Forest Gump, Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Lacks the fire and cohesiveness that you see in the great Izzo teams. There are moments and stretches where Sparty looks like a great Izzo team. For 38 minutes, able to build a 10 pt lead on the road at Iowa. And then... Some heroic wins, but some completely unexplainable losses. I think against MU, they will play Hall and Hauser at forward a lot, instead of Sissoko or the rest of the non-descript back up 5's. It makes sense, as Hall is 6'8 and Joey 6'9. I think that if OMax stays home on Hauser and stays out of foul trouble, MU wins that match up. When Sissoko is not in the game, MSU lacks a shot blocker. Still good rebounders. MSU will play big with Hauser, Hall and a 5. Then The guard play will be the norm. MSU has played a lot of 3 guard this year. They don't have a lock down defender. As always, MSU will attempt to be the more physical team. All year, I have watched MSU guards and thought Seton Hall. MU's best is better than MSU's best.
Good scouting report, tower. Hope you have one ready for our 2nd-round matchup against USC.
My first thought about a potential Michigan State game? Joey Hauser pick and roll defense. That's where Marquette feasts.
Better not to get overconfident. Since Crean came from MSU, I think MSU has always looked down on MU. Just another team from the Izzo coaching tree. Was it MSU in Greensboro we played with an injured Dominic James and the team had shaved heads? We got destroyed.
Thanks, Cheebs09 and Tower. Did MU play MSU in the tournament?I seem to recall a big buildup of mentor versus student when Crean was Coach.If not, guess just time playing tricks on me.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couch/2023/03/12/michigan-state-basketball-ncaa-tournaemnt-bracket-usc-marquette-columbus-3-quick-takes/70000021007/MU is good, but the weakest of the #2's, so Sparty could have done a lot worse. So, if MSU gets past USC, which is far from certain......My take on Sparty. Forest Gump, Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Lacks the fire and cohesiveness that you see in the great Izzo teams. There are moments and stretches where Sparty looks like a great Izzo team. For 38 minutes, able to build a 10 pt lead on the road at Iowa. And then... Some heroic wins, but some completely unexplainable losses. I think against MU, they will play Hall and Hauser at forward with a 3 guard set a lot, instead of Sissoko or the rest of the non-descript back up 5's. It makes sense, as Hall is 6'8 and Joey 6'9. I think that if OMax stays home on Hauser and stays out of foul trouble, MU wins that match up. When Sissoko is not in the game, MSU lacks a shot blocker. Still good rebounders. MSU will play big with Hauser, Hall and a 5. The guard play will be the norm. MSU has played a lot of 3 guard this year. They don't have a lock down defender. As always, MSU will attempt to be the more physical team. All year, I have watched MSU guards and thought Seton Hall. MU's best is better than MSU's best.
Sparty put a whuppin on MU the year Jerel was out with a thumb injury.
Vermont is short, quick, shoots a lot of 3's and fared poorly out of conference.
Izzo put up a hybrid picket fence zone defense to stop dribble penetration and his protégé didn't respond with a counter until it was too late. Incredibly, MU had zero two point baskets in the first half as Crean kept going to his endless loop three man weave. Maddening.
I was wondering if anyone on MU's roster was on MU's roster when Joey was. Then I remembered that Joey has been in college for a decade and is a balding middle aged man, while our roster is the youngest in the BE. Go MU.
In 2007, State got out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back. MSU 61, MU 49. I don't see history repeating.