Dawson practiced today

[Sbee]

Should get 3 practices before Saturday. I expect the handle and free throws to be rough but his game is all effort so he should get back quickly

 

[jdeb]

Huge for MSU. If he is at or near 100% come tourny time, I would not want to face them.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Dawson getting back into the mix IS huge. I'm still worried about what Appling will be able to give us. He was being talked about early on as a Big Ten POY candidate, and he more than anyone else was holding things together while Payne and Dawson were out. If Harris and Payne can dominate then it matters less, but they seem not to be able to quite do that on a game-in game-out basis. Before it was nice because you could usually count on 2 of those 3 having a big game.

 

[Sbee]

Dawson getting back into the mix IS huge. I'm still worried about what Appling will be able to give us. He was being talked about early on as a Big Ten POY candidate, and he more than anyone else was holding things together while Payne and Dawson were out. If Harris and Payne can dominate then it matters less, but they seem not to be able to quite do that on a game-in game-out basis. Before it was nice because you could usually count on 2 of those 3 having a big game.

Appling being a threat to shoot is key, Michigan just sagged on him all day playing him to drive because he's not going to pull up. With defenders denying the lane and him being no threat to shoot you're playing 5 on 4 out there.

I'd be fine with resting him if it was guaranteed to help but its not. At this point, give us 6 games with our starters healthy and hope we get in sync. I'm not in favor if inserting a new pg in for the first game of the tournament

 

[MSUMatt28]

I agree. Play Appling at this point and hope he can at least be a catalyst with us pushing the ball and scoring in transition (having Dawson back will help there too) and also contribute defensively. If we need outside shooting from the position at certain points then put Trice in. If Appling has to modify his role from here on out and have every one adjust to that right now, that's easier than throwing him back in later on then everyone having to adjust to his presence anyway.

The team survived 2 years ago with Appling being a 25% shooter from 3 for the season and he was even worse there in the final month. And he was the second leading scorer behind Draymond that year. So hopefully there's a way to make it work here if need be.

 

[Sbee]

I agree. Play Appling at this point and hope he can at least be a catalyst with us pushing the ball and scoring in transition (having Dawson back will help there too) and also contribute defensively. If we need outside shooting from the position at certain points then put Trice in. If Appling has to modify his role from here on out and have every one adjust to that right now, that's easier than throwing him back in later on then everyone having to adjust to his presence anyway.

The team survived 2 years ago with Appling being a 25% shooter from 3 for the season and he was even worse there in the final month. And he was the second leading scorer behind Draymond that year. So hopefully there's a way to make it work here if need be.

It's bad that he has more turnovers than FG attempts in the last 3 games

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

With the starting lineup of Dawson, Payne and Costello if we get out rebounded even once the rest of the year I will throw my tv out of the window. Also watching Byrd defensively in that Michigan game had me on the brink of tears. Welcome back Dawson, we've missed you!!

 

[Sbee]

Rexrode just tweeted that he'll be 90% in practice today.

getting there, hopefully the bye helps us and we get our rotations down.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Supposedly looked great in practice. Was jumping and rebounding well and was locking down DV, Harris, and Appling on defense.

He's huge for this team. Just gives us a huge physical advantage over most teams.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Supposedly looked great in practice. Was jumping and rebounding well and was locking down DV, Harris, and Appling on defense.

He's huge for this team. Just gives us a huge physical advantage over most teams.

As Seth Greenberg put it, he's an "energizer bunny"

 

[Sbee]

i heard the same thing, touch around the rim was good, even hit a few jumpers and had serious elevation

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Dawson has amazing hands around the rim. Some of the put backs he has are ridiculous. It's funny watching someone like Schilling try a put back and nearly throw the ball over the backboard.

 

[Sbee]

Dawson has amazing hands around the rim. Some of the put backs he has are ridiculous. It's funny watching someone like Schilling try a put back and nearly throw the ball over the backboard.

crazy touch with the left hand in mid air. that's stuff you just can't teach

 

[Spartanmack]

my how absence makes the heart grow fonder. Before the injury half the posters here practically wanted him benched and would cringe every time he touched the ball on offense. Obviously his defense has been missed but now we miss his sweet touch? You have to admit, it's kinda funny.

As for resting Appling, I see no problem letting him take the rest of the B1G season off, certainly not the next 2 games - Trice, DV and Harris can pick up the slack and Ellis can can some valuable, late season minutes. This team is pretty experienced, it's not like they'll forget how to play w/ Appling if you sit him for a week and a half - and it's not like you're sitting him in december until the conf tournament. If they win out without him, they will get a bye for the B1G tourney - they could lose 2 games and still get the bye.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

my how absence makes the hear grow fonder. Before the injury half the posters here practically wanted him benched and would cringe every time he touched the ball on offense. Obviously his defense has been missed but now we miss his sweet touch? You have to admit, it's kinda funny.

You don't know what you have until it's gone.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I'm just ready to see a healthy team again. Even with Dawson back, that probably won't really happen until Appling takes the time to get right. So be it. Glad Dawson is on the way, now let's hope no one else goes down during the Big Dance.

 

[Sbee]

is the rust Appling would have from a two week absence worth a slightly better wrist? is it better to get some continuity and have appling at 70% instead of 80%?

 

[Spartanmack]

depends. he's got over 3 months of playing under his belt this season and is a senior - how rusty is he going to get in less than a couple weeks?

 

[Sbee]

depends. he's got over 3 months of playing under his belt this season and is a senior - how rusty is he going to get in less than a couple weeks?

rust is one thing but continuity is another. if this were the situation a month ago i'd agree but we need this team to practice and play together if we're going to have a shot at a title. there aren't any easy solutions here

 

[Spartanmack]

Payne melded back into the lineup just fine, Harris has been streaky but not because of any disruptive rest, etc, etc. We have competent depth, if there is a decent chance Appling can get his shot back, it's worth it to sit him for the next couple games.

This is another reason losing to Nebraska was so awful - no way Appling plays 25 minutes against Purdue if we don't shit the bed against the Huskers.