This is the third time I have tried to write this. I started writing on my phone, forgot to save it, went to do something else on the phone, and lost everything. I attempted a second try, and saw that, finally, a computer was free in our house. So here I am...
Today is the big day. Heart Attack Special Day. The culmination of what of one of our local Lansing sports talk show hosts David "Mad Dog" DeMarco calls "Prozac Week."
Bitter rivals Michigan State vs. Michigan in basketball: round two.
Can Michigan State continue the torrid shooting they displayed against Purdue on Thursday night? Or do they revert back to the "brick fest" of the Wisconsin and Nebraska games? Somewhere in the middle should be just fine, as far as I'm concerned. On the other side of the floor, does Michigan shoot the ball like they did in East Lansing last month? If so, it could be a season sweep for the Wolverines and I don't know how I'll take that. Probably not well. I may go into seclusion until the start of baseball season. (Tongue somewhat in cheek, there).
One fact I do know is that Michigan State is healthier than they were the first time these teams went at it this year. Winning basketball teams rely in synergy, and Branden Dawson had injured his hand only two days before MSU and Michigan played at Breslin. The Spartans had no time to prepare for life without him, had to scramble to put together a new patchwork rotation, but still played admirably in that game despite the circumstances, only losing by 5 to a team--the Wolverines--whose shooters were on fire that night.
Keith Appling is healthier and seems to almost have all of his strength and conditioning back. The same can be said for Adreian Payne. For both guys, this is may be their last shot at Michigan. I fully expect both of those players to give everything they have today. The bigger question may be what the other players like Valentine, Harris, Trice, Costello, and Kaminski bring. I can't answer that because I don't know. I hope they feed off the energy of Appling and Payne and the Spartans come away with a win. I hope that Valentine continues to play with the maturity he has shown in recent weeks, I hope that Harris shoots the way he did against Purdue and not Wisconsin.
I have to take a moment here and say that Michigan basketball is back, as if there was any doubt. The University of Michigan has far too many resources and history to continually field a weak basketball team. It just took the Fab Five scandal to be far enough away in the rear view mirror, and for Michigan to find the right coach in John Beilein. Believe me, I enjoyed the days when the Spartans beat the Wolverines in basketball like a rented mule, but those days are over for the foreseeable future.
Back to the game: I hope the Spartan basketball team can get some payback in Ann Arbor and that I and the rest of Spartan Nation can wake up with a spring in our step on Monday morning.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
At what point do we become concerned?
It's natural for a team to not bring it's "A" game all the time, but yesterday's MSU loss to Nebraska at home was shocking. And from my observation, it appears that the Spartan basketball team has lacked consistent focus for the last few weeks. But really, one could go all the way back to early in the season--with nail-biters against the likes of Columbia--and see that this team is prone to lapses in focus and energy.
Yes, I know that injuries are still an issue for MSU, and that Nebraska has improved over the last half-dozen games or so, but that doesn't make yesterday's loss much less surprising, particularly in light of what MSU had to gain by coming out strong and winning.
I'm trying hard not be the stupid, myopic sports fan here. There's no doubt that MSU's consistent excellence in hoops throughout the last 17 years tends to spoil us, and we begin to believe that winning, particularly in Breslin Center. is virtually automatic. Well, it's not. And when your opponent outworks you and outhustles you, like Nebraska did yesterday, you will lose--even in your own building. It's easy as a fan to focus all of your attention on what your own team did wrong and forget that there is an opponent who wants to win just as badly, and Nebraska was the hungrier team.
After Wisconsin, I was still convinced that if the Spartans ever got healthy again, they'd be a Final Four team. Now, I don't know that they'll ever get healthy and I'm beginning to question how far this team can go in the tournament. Maybe not as far as I originally thought.
Yes, I know that injuries are still an issue for MSU, and that Nebraska has improved over the last half-dozen games or so, but that doesn't make yesterday's loss much less surprising, particularly in light of what MSU had to gain by coming out strong and winning.
I'm trying hard not be the stupid, myopic sports fan here. There's no doubt that MSU's consistent excellence in hoops throughout the last 17 years tends to spoil us, and we begin to believe that winning, particularly in Breslin Center. is virtually automatic. Well, it's not. And when your opponent outworks you and outhustles you, like Nebraska did yesterday, you will lose--even in your own building. It's easy as a fan to focus all of your attention on what your own team did wrong and forget that there is an opponent who wants to win just as badly, and Nebraska was the hungrier team.
After Wisconsin, I was still convinced that if the Spartans ever got healthy again, they'd be a Final Four team. Now, I don't know that they'll ever get healthy and I'm beginning to question how far this team can go in the tournament. Maybe not as far as I originally thought.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Wisconsin thoughts
We're moments away from tip-off of the Wisconsin basketball game at the Kohl Center in Madison and Keith Appling is out of the lineup. Will this team ever be at full strength?
Even without Appling, the Spartans are a better and more talented team than the Badgers. That doesn't necessarily translate into a victory, particularly on the road against a potentially desperate team.
Okay, the game has tipped off. Go Green!
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We're at the first media timeout and the score is deadlocked at 14.
I don't know that I've mentioned how much I like Alvin Ellis III. He's developing into a very good player.
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Badgers up 25-22 and the Spartans can't hit the broad side of a barn.
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Wisconsin 60, Spartans 58
Well, that was not the desired result. I'm sitting here nursing a Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale and contemplating the game and typing this entry from my phone, since I don't have a computer nearby.
Considering how poorly the Spartans shot the ball, and the bummer of no Appling, it's astounding that MSU only lost by two points.
I still remain convinced that if this team ever gets fully healthy, they are national title contenders.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Michigan State 82, Penn State 67
Last night was the best 40 minutes of basketball I've seen from the Spartans in...I don't know how long. They may have had bigger wins this year against more challenging opponents, but I can't recall the last time when the team clicked on all cylinders for the entire game (or at least until 3:32 was left and Izzo started inserting the "human victory cigars").
Adreain Payne finally played and, though he looked rusty, contributed 12 points in 18 minutes. More importantly, his presence in the post opened up perimeter shooting opportunities for the likes of Gary Harris and Kenny Kaminski.
The bad news was Keith Appling didn't play, but Denzel Valentine had a spectacular game--maybe his best game as a Spartan--and Travis Trice played well at point guard..
Speaking of "best games as a Spartan," how about Kaminski? 7/9 from the field and 5/6 from 3-point range--good for 19 points.
The Nittany Lions came into town riding a 3-game winning streak, but MSU punched them in the mouth early and took them out of the game. Every time Penn State attempted to make a run, MSU answered immediately.
Next up: Wisconsin. They've struggled in the Big Ten, and have even had trouble at the Kohl Center, but something about playing MSU seems to bring out the best in them. Sunday's showdown could be a nail-biter.
Adreain Payne finally played and, though he looked rusty, contributed 12 points in 18 minutes. More importantly, his presence in the post opened up perimeter shooting opportunities for the likes of Gary Harris and Kenny Kaminski.
The bad news was Keith Appling didn't play, but Denzel Valentine had a spectacular game--maybe his best game as a Spartan--and Travis Trice played well at point guard..
Speaking of "best games as a Spartan," how about Kaminski? 7/9 from the field and 5/6 from 3-point range--good for 19 points.
The Nittany Lions came into town riding a 3-game winning streak, but MSU punched them in the mouth early and took them out of the game. Every time Penn State attempted to make a run, MSU answered immediately.
Next up: Wisconsin. They've struggled in the Big Ten, and have even had trouble at the Kohl Center, but something about playing MSU seems to bring out the best in them. Sunday's showdown could be a nail-biter.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Just a short blurb about "'crootin'" and tonight's Penn State game
I don't follow high school recruiting closely--if at all--and, hence, don't treat national signing day as some sort of unofficial holiday. I've always found it pointless to get emotionally invested in the college choices made by teenage athletes.
Having said that, I'm happy to see that Michigan State's highly successful 2013 football season is already paying dividends on the recruiting trail. Now, we just need Malik McDowell's parents to get on board with his choice, and this could be Mark Dantonio's most highly rated class.
Adreian Payne will be back in the lineup for tonight's basketball game against Penn State, and here's hoping that having the big fella back and being back home in Big Ten competition will inspire the team. They need a shot in the arm after the Georgetown misfire.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Georgetown 64, Michigan State 60
Georgetown wanted it more.
That was what I took away from MSU's 64-60 loss to the Hoyas at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon...then I got mad at myself for spending two-plus hours watching one of the most lethargic, uninspired Spartan basketball performances of the entire season. That was one ugly game.
In my previous post, I picked the Spartans to beat Georgetown in a close game. I completely underestimated Georgetown's desperation, while overestimating Michigan State's interest in playing in the game.
The good news is the result of this game means relatively little for MSU. It was a non-conference game against an unranked opponent. Sure, it would have been nice to win, but I don't think it would have done anything for MSU's RPI or tournament resume. And, actually, getting out of New York without any further injuries is probably a bigger victory for the Spartans than if they'd defeated the Hoyas on the basketball court.
Better news occurred yesterday, when Indiana beat Michigan at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The Spartans and Wolverines are now tied for first place in the Big Ten. I have to admit that if I had to choose between a Michigan State win over Georgetown or a Michigan loss to Indiana, I'd have gladly taken the Michigan loss: and not so much because I dislike Michigan, but because it helps Michigan State in the conference race.
So now, it's time to get Adreain Payne back in the MSU lineup and gear up for the final half of the conference season. I may be proven wrong in the end, but I firmly believe that if this team gets healthy and all the pieces back in place, they have a legitimate shot at a national championship run.
That was what I took away from MSU's 64-60 loss to the Hoyas at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon...then I got mad at myself for spending two-plus hours watching one of the most lethargic, uninspired Spartan basketball performances of the entire season. That was one ugly game.
In my previous post, I picked the Spartans to beat Georgetown in a close game. I completely underestimated Georgetown's desperation, while overestimating Michigan State's interest in playing in the game.
The good news is the result of this game means relatively little for MSU. It was a non-conference game against an unranked opponent. Sure, it would have been nice to win, but I don't think it would have done anything for MSU's RPI or tournament resume. And, actually, getting out of New York without any further injuries is probably a bigger victory for the Spartans than if they'd defeated the Hoyas on the basketball court.
Better news occurred yesterday, when Indiana beat Michigan at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The Spartans and Wolverines are now tied for first place in the Big Ten. I have to admit that if I had to choose between a Michigan State win over Georgetown or a Michigan loss to Indiana, I'd have gladly taken the Michigan loss: and not so much because I dislike Michigan, but because it helps Michigan State in the conference race.
So now, it's time to get Adreain Payne back in the MSU lineup and gear up for the final half of the conference season. I may be proven wrong in the end, but I firmly believe that if this team gets healthy and all the pieces back in place, they have a legitimate shot at a national championship run.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Georgetown game
We're moments away from tip-off of the MSU/Georgetown basketball game. I have no idea what to expect, but there may be more at stake in this game for the Hoyas than the Spartans. I have to admit that I don't know much about the Hoyas other than they are currently riding a five-game losing streak. They come into this game with a record of 11-9, and a win over MSU would be big for their NCAA tournament resume.
Ultimately, though, I expect MSU's talent and depth to prevail and the Spartans will win a hard-fought and relatively close game.
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