Basketball

[LuciousGameWinner]

Ok I’ll be the first to say it. And let me know if I’m crazy, but Tillman fits this team so much better than Ward. I know Izzo will never make the switch but we look like a much more in sync team with Tillman our there

 

[MSUMatt28]

I'm not sure why it has to be a either/or proposition. They've shown that they can play together depending on the situation. Tillman isn't the post scorer Ward is, but probably does everything else better. I think the rotation is working pretty well the way it is with those 2 and Goins getting most of those minutes, and the 2 that are in there depending on the situation/matchup, and then Bingham working in here and there.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I also think that Aaron Henry will be an absolute beast in the coming years. He is not the best shooter right now, but the way he drives to the basket is refreshing. We don’t see that much under Izzo

 

[Sbee]

Ok I?ll be the first to say it. And let me know if I?m crazy, but Tillman fits this team so much better than Ward. I know Izzo will never make the switch but we look like a much more in sync team with Tillman our there

They are apples and oranges, what Tillman is good at, Ward isn't, and vice versa. Ward is an offensive force in the post like we havne't seen at MSU in a long time. His ability to rim run makes our break so much better. He didn't have a great game statistically against NIU, he was doubled all game and sometimes triple teamed. What you saw though was him not panicking or turning it over. he made good passes out of the post (vs dribbling the ball out and resetting the offense). He only had 2 assists on the stat sheet but NIU closed well and MSU missed some open shots off of his passes, him being calm during double teams bodes very well for this team.

 

[johnny2x2x]

As good of a half as we've played this year. Up 52-32 on Northwestern while only taking 4 3s shows you what we did, we pounded it inside. Ward with 21 first half points. Tillman doing it all with 10 points, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 2 boards and a made 3.

As impressive of a half as I've seen from us in a long long time.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Really complete effort and this team seems to be getting better as the season progresses. Just hope we don't hear bad news on Langford's ankle.

 

[MSUMatt28]

I'll add too that what I like about this team right now is, even though they're ranked in the top 10, I feel like they're flying under the radar, and I consider that a good thing. Last year they got some early attention first playing what people thought was a great Duke team really tough, then pounding UNC and a healthy Notre Dame team. But then they severely leveled off after that. This year's team had that loss to Louisville (that shouldn't have happened the way they gave it away but was understandable after a tough prior stretch) remove some of the glare and have since been able to just go out and focus on getting better as a team. There's a toughness and chemistry here that hasn't been evident in an Izzo team in at least several years.

 

[Sbee]

I'll add too that what I like about this team right now is, even though they're ranked in the top 10, I feel like they're flying under the radar, and I consider that a good thing. Last year they got some early attention first playing what people thought was a great Duke team really tough, then pounding UNC and a healthy Notre Dame team. But then they severely leveled off after that. This year's team had that loss to Louisville (that shouldn't have happened the way they gave it away but was understandable after a tough prior stretch) remove some of the glare and have since been able to just go out and focus on getting better as a team. There's a toughness and chemistry here that hasn't been evident in an Izzo team in at least several years.

Not happy that UM is undefeated and #2 but they deserve it, MSU is a little under the radar. I'd rather have won every game but sometimes it's nice to be the hunter vs the hunted