MSU's lack of perimeter shooting has me troubled, as has their consistent inability to handle the rock. However, Derrick Nix is having a great game, and that is good. The Spartans just need better play from everyone else.
All year I've heard about how Texas basketball was bad this year. Well, I watched a good deal of their game against North Carolina and the Longhorns demolished the Heels. That game was not close. From what I can tell so far, Texas is good and should only continue to improve throughout the remainder of the season.
It's only halftime, and few coaches are better at making halftime adjustments than Tom Izzo. If MSU can continue to play good defense, which is their calling card this year, and make some shots, perhaps they can pull this game out.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The Courtship of Jabari Parker
Today's the day.
The day when a 17 year-old basketball player from Simeon High School in Chicago finally announces where he intends on playing his college ball.
I don't generally follow recruiting that closely, but this one has been unavoidable. The wooing of this youngster really places the spotlight on how crazy recruiting has become, and the incredible and costly lengths that coaches will go to in order to sign a prospect.
Within the last week, Tom Izzo has flown to Texas and Chicago to be near Jabari Parker, taking time away from his team to remind this kid, "We really want you and are extremely interested in you." Mike Krzyzewski has done essentially the same. How much money does this cost Michigan State and Duke, and all for a player who may not even sign for either school? It's madness, but what else is new? College sports in general has become madness. Yet I, and many others, continue to support it with enthusiasm, further encouraging the "arms race" between competing colleges and universities.
Stay tuned. At 4:00 or so when Jabari Parker makes his announcement. Only one school and fanbase will be happy, while several others will be sad, having spent many hours, days, and money only to come up empty-handed.
Having written all of that, I will be absolutely elated if Jabari Parker chooses MSU.
Postscript: Jabari Parker chose Duke, and has had an outstanding freshman season for the Blue Devils. Cue "sad face."
The day when a 17 year-old basketball player from Simeon High School in Chicago finally announces where he intends on playing his college ball.
I don't generally follow recruiting that closely, but this one has been unavoidable. The wooing of this youngster really places the spotlight on how crazy recruiting has become, and the incredible and costly lengths that coaches will go to in order to sign a prospect.
Within the last week, Tom Izzo has flown to Texas and Chicago to be near Jabari Parker, taking time away from his team to remind this kid, "We really want you and are extremely interested in you." Mike Krzyzewski has done essentially the same. How much money does this cost Michigan State and Duke, and all for a player who may not even sign for either school? It's madness, but what else is new? College sports in general has become madness. Yet I, and many others, continue to support it with enthusiasm, further encouraging the "arms race" between competing colleges and universities.
Stay tuned. At 4:00 or so when Jabari Parker makes his announcement. Only one school and fanbase will be happy, while several others will be sad, having spent many hours, days, and money only to come up empty-handed.
Having written all of that, I will be absolutely elated if Jabari Parker chooses MSU.
Postscript: Jabari Parker chose Duke, and has had an outstanding freshman season for the Blue Devils. Cue "sad face."
Monday, December 17, 2012
The Jenison Field House game
Michigan State defeated Tuskegee University on Saturday night. It was the first MSU basketball game at Jenison Field House since the Spartans' 1989 NIT appearance.
I did not attend the game, but watched it on television. It was so much fun seeing Jenison on TV again, and almost brought back memories of watching the Spartans in the days of Magic, Special K, Jay Vincent, Kevin Willis, and Scott Skiles. If only MSU could have replicated that funky old tartan court from the '70s and early '80s, (As a kid, I remember feeling embarrassed by that floor and wished MSU could have a "normal" wood floor. They did eventually end up getting rid of the tartan floor and replacing it with wood sometime in the mid-'80s).
MSU played a lackluster and sloppy first half against Tuskegee, but improved greatly in the second half and won by 36 points. I read many upset and angry posts on the Red Cedar Message Board during the first half, but as usual the complaining was completely over the top.
Nothing can really be taken from this game. It was played in the unfamiliar (for the current players) surroundings of Jenison, in front of a fairly subdued crowd that was nothing like the raucous Jenison crowds of old, against an energetic but thoroughly outmatched opponent. MSU was in a difficult position: you don't want to invite Tuskegee to participate in this game and then completely blow them out, at the same time anything short of a blow out looks to many as a sloppy struggle.
The next few games for MSU, against Bowling Green on the road and Texas at Breslin, will tell a lot more about the Spartan basketball team.
I did not attend the game, but watched it on television. It was so much fun seeing Jenison on TV again, and almost brought back memories of watching the Spartans in the days of Magic, Special K, Jay Vincent, Kevin Willis, and Scott Skiles. If only MSU could have replicated that funky old tartan court from the '70s and early '80s, (As a kid, I remember feeling embarrassed by that floor and wished MSU could have a "normal" wood floor. They did eventually end up getting rid of the tartan floor and replacing it with wood sometime in the mid-'80s).
MSU played a lackluster and sloppy first half against Tuskegee, but improved greatly in the second half and won by 36 points. I read many upset and angry posts on the Red Cedar Message Board during the first half, but as usual the complaining was completely over the top.
Nothing can really be taken from this game. It was played in the unfamiliar (for the current players) surroundings of Jenison, in front of a fairly subdued crowd that was nothing like the raucous Jenison crowds of old, against an energetic but thoroughly outmatched opponent. MSU was in a difficult position: you don't want to invite Tuskegee to participate in this game and then completely blow them out, at the same time anything short of a blow out looks to many as a sloppy struggle.
The next few games for MSU, against Bowling Green on the road and Texas at Breslin, will tell a lot more about the Spartan basketball team.
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